Liverpool kick-off the EPL with a win over Stoke City.

Daniel Sturridge gave Liverpool fans hope in the absence of Luis Suarez as the Reds take the first three points of the new Premier League season.

Sturridge, who performed admirably last season when Suarez was out of the lineup, again stepped up at rainy Anfield as the hosts proved their new attacking lineup could create a vast number of chances.

It was an exciting start to the first match of the new season.  Liverpool pressed very high up the pitch and exerted lots of energy quickly.  

The new boy Iago Aspas showed pace and ability to find space in the beginning.  They utilized the wide areas to bring the ball forward, making passes into the box often from the deep wing.

Stoke, however, had some chances to counter early but the passing was poor.  It was passing nonetheless, as the delighted away fans at Anfield sang “We’re Stoke City, and we’re passing the ball!”

The chances were begging in the first half, but nobody was able to convert.  Stoke won a corner in the 8th minute and a Robert Huth volley clattered the crossbar, Liverpool’s new defender Kolo Toure also rattled the crossbar on the other end a few minutes later. Sturridge found the back of the net with a header off a free kick, but the assistant referee’s offsides flag correctly went up to rule out the goal.

The game settled down considerably after the first 15 minutes, as the teams battled hard in the midfield for possession.  Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic did all he could to keep Liverpool out in the first half.  LFC got a chance in the 29th minute on an absolutely wonderful move by Coutinho on the edge that resulted in a one-two between Jose Enrique and Iago Aspas, but Enrique’s shot from close range was saved by Begovic.  The Bosnian keeper again denied a clear chance for Liverpool six minutes later as another lovely ball from Coutinho found Jordan Henderson making a run in the box but he misfired and Begovic held strong.

Finally the breakthrough came as Sturridge got a small bit of space on the outside of the box and decided to have a go on the ground, as the ball nutmegged Huth and found the far post for the opening goal of the 2013/14 season.

Jonathan Walters nearly equalized before halftime with a stinging shot from distance but a superb diving save by Simon Mignolet kept him out.

Liverpool began the second half where they left off, as Jordan Henderson found himself with a breakaway chance just two minutes in, but missed wide right.  The midfielder again came oh so close as he shook the far post on a shot from the right side of the box, as goal-line technology confirmed the ball did not cross the line from a tight angle.

Stoke pushed forward in the final 20 minutes, but it wasn’t enough as they still couldn’t produce much for Mignolet to do. Steven Gerrard gave fans watching a glimpse of his past as he rocketed a free kick from incredibly far out almost into the top corner if not for another fantastic diving effort by Begovic.

The penalty at the end was a serious mistake that almost cost them the game, but in addition to the attack Liverpool will be delighted with the performance of Mignolet, who saved the three points as Jonathan Walters will hang his head after his poor penalty.