Liverpool frustrated by Stoke in goalless draw at Anfield
Liverpool and Stoke both left Anfield without the result they needed on Saturday, as a 0-0 draw dented the sides' hopes of top four and survival respectively.
- Klopp rotations decrease the intensity -
Liverpool made a few changes for the game, with James Milner, Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson all receiving a rest, as Jurgen Klopp switched to a 3-4-3 system.
As a result of either the changed personnel, the new formation, or a mental issue, Liverpool weren't at their usual intensity in the first half, and played quite sloppily at points. Stoke desperately needed to pick up points to have any hope of avoiding relegation, and they did quite well to disrupt the play in the first half.
The visitors had a couple of decent chances to score, but Mo Salah missed the biggest opportunity of the period in the sixth minute, skewing a chipped attempt just wide of the post, after going one-on-one with keeper Jack Butland.
- Lack of cutting edge -
The second half began in a rather stop-start fashion, with a couple of players picking up knocks to stop play, however the quality of the game didn't really improve even once the second half got underway properly. Like the first half, Liverpool were frustrated by Stoke, who broke up the home side's game successfully, and kept the usually lethal Mo Salah quiet.
Again though, Liverpool looked below average, dominating possession but failing to do much with it. The home side had 20 shots during the game, but only two were on target. They had a penalty shout in the latter stages of the game, but regardless of the potentially harsh decision by the referee to wave it away, Klopp's side didn't pose enough of a threat throughout.