Premier League: Glen Johnson's late header gives Liverpool a home win over Stoke
Liverpool has completed a series of three straight Premier League defeats as end of Glen Johnson header gave them a 1-0 victory over Stoke after a nervous encounter at Anfield on Saturday.
Johnson reacted more quickly to a Rickie Lambert header that hit the bar after the visitors to close several times, with Bojan Krkic hitting the post and Mame Biram Diouf denied by clearance of Raheem Sterling.
After a drab opening 45 minutes, the massively open game and both sides have pushed some great opportunities. Lucas and Joe Allen both missed opportunities within the area, while Bojan drew to a spectacular stop of Simon Mignolet in stoppage time.
But the hosts held off pressure from Stoke to record their first victory in November and pressure mounting on Manager Brendan Rodgers.
Rodgers has rested Captain Steven Gerrard on the 16th anniversary of his debut for the club, with Philippe Coutinho arrive, while Kolo Touré was given the go-ahead before Dejan Lovren in central defence and Jose Enrique started instead of Alberto Moreno.
Stoke, meanwhile, were without Victor Moses, after the winger was injured against Burnley, so Marko Arnautovic filled in on the left wing. Mark Hughes also made two changes to the back, with Marc Wilson and Erik Pieters incoming.
The crowd was left frustrated in the opening 45 minutes that Liverpool could not if imposed in the middle of the Park, even after Stoke had to withdraw from Steve Sidwell from the outset, with the midfield is not to recover from a challenge of 50-50 with Rickie Lambert.
Glenn Whelan, who has replaced the injured Sidwell, had to be withdrawn himself at half-time and Charlie Adam was introduced against his former club. Midfielder almost had an effect immediately, but at the end of evil as he gave the ball directly to Sterling before a recovery to cut his pass for Lambert.
Moments later Henderson, who was Captain instead of Gerrard, drilled a volley inches wide that Liverpool began to find their feet.
Men Rodgers almost caught out at the other end as Bojan found Diouf in behind and, with Mignolet electing not to come out, forward tested the goalkeeper for the first time in the match, forcing a low save from Liverpool shot-stopper.
Things have continued to open, and Bojan flew in from the left before drilling a shot against the near post and then only later Sterling moments dragged a foot effort inches wide left.
Sterling was involved again as he intercepted a pass by Arnautovic and Liverpool was momentarily five against three. The winger played in Lucas, but lack of the Brazilian objectives shone through as he drilled his forehand to Begovic.
Allen spoon then a shot from short range above after some play neat Coutinho and Sterling that guests could not just to find the back of the net, while Stoke looked like they would rue their missed chances.
Mark Hughes must have thought it would be the day of his side a corner fell to Diouf six yards out, but his shot on the turn was blocked on the line by Sterling.
Just a few minutes later, the deadlock was finally broken, and Gerrard was inevitably involved in the accumulation. Cross of the midfielder was greeted by Lambert, who powered a header against the crossbar and Johnson reacted faster, load head the ball low into the net.
It was a huge blow for Stoke, who would have felt they could have taken the three points, but they could not go back on the words level despite some late pressure inside the Liverpool half.
Soccer Saturday - Charlie Nicholas reaction
I did not believe that Liverpool deserved. Stoke were worthy of something from the game. It's three points for Liverpool - but Mark Hughes will think his side should have won this match, too bad you have a point. I thought that Stoke were pretty good today.
Not much has happened in the first half; Stoke's form was good and Liverpool didn't really make them evil. But the second half exploded. Charlie Adam got a nice left foot but it is not really a holding player, he did not discipline, and this means that the game starts to spread and there was plenty of space.
Everything was good from Liverpool came through Sterling but it was Johnson who got the winner with five minutes to go, heading after the Lambert header came back off the cross bar.
Bojan was much, much better in the second half and had one against the post broke after jumping beyond a few players. If it was just being more clinical with his last pass in the first half and then it would open upwards - and if Stoke had scored at the outset they would have won this match.
Player Ratings
Liverpool: Mignolet (7), Johnson (7), Boubacar (6), Touré (6), Enrique (7), Lucas (6), Allen (5), Henderson (6), Coutinho (7), Sterling (8), Lambert (6).
Used subs: Gerrard (7), Lovren (6).
Stoke: Begovic (6), Cameron (7), Shawcross (7), Wilson (5), Pieters (6), N'zonzi (6), Sidwell (5), Walters (6), Bojan (7), Arnautovic (6), Diouf (7).
Used subs: Whelan (5), Adam (6), Crouch (6).
Man of the match: Raheem Sterling
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