Coutinho fires Liverpool to victory

Philippe Coutinho produced a moment of magic four minutes from time to help Liverpool to a hard fought 1-0 win over Stoke at the Britannia.

In a game devoid of much quality, Coutinho showed his class in the dying minutes as he collected the ball 30-yards from goal before firing into the top corner to give his side a scarcely deserved three points.

In truth, neither side deserved to win the game as both struggled to create chances throughout the 90-minutes, but the Reds just had that little bit extra in the shape of their little Brazilian.

After a nervy opening, it was Stoke who created the first chance of the game when the ball fell to Charlie Adam on the Liverpool penalty spot, but the midfielder sliced his effort past the post when he really should have done better.

The game really was devoid of any goalmouth action throughout the half and it wasn’t until the 36th minute that the home side threatened again.

Jon Walters released Marco van Ginkel who raced to the byline and whipped in a deflected cross that forced Martin Skrtel into an acrobatic clearance off the line.

The ball was recycled quickly by Stoke as Ibrahim Affelay’s shot was blocked down before the rebound fell to Glen Johnson, but he blasted over from 10 yards.

And it was the hosts who finished the half the stronger when Affelay’s effort was blocked down on the edge of the box as the sides went in level at the break.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first with both sides struggling in the final third.

Liverpool seemed to be the team willing to push more and they had their first real opening after an hour when the ball dropped to Dejan Lovren inside the Stoke area, but his effort was well saved by Jack Butland.

The Reds finally seemed to realise that there was a game to be won and they went close again five minutes later when Jordan Henderson burst into the penalty area, but his cross was just too far ahead of Christian Benteke.

However, there was no mistake four minutes from time when Coutinho collected the ball 30-yards from goal and hit a stunning strike that flew into the top corner to put his side 1-0 up.

Stoke threw men forward in the dying minutes as they launched high balls into the Liverpool box, but they were unable to find an equaliser as Liverpool held on for all three points.

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