Liverpool
manager Brendan Rodgers wants his side to show some consistency if they
are going to challenge for the top four in the Premier League.
The
Reds suffered a 3-1 defeat to Stoke at the Britannia Stadium as
Jonathan Walters scored twice either side of Kenwyne Jones' effort to
overturn Steven Gerrard's early penalty - awarded for a foul on Luis
Suarez - for the visitors.
Stoke's unbeaten
run is now extended to nine games - their best ever in the Premier
League while Liverpool suffered more inconsistency by failing to build
on Saturday's 4-0 win over Fulham.
"We conceded soft goals after a great start, a bit of magic by Luis earned us our first penalty of the season," said Rodgers.
"We
were 1-0 up at a place where it's difficult place to score goals. We
needed to gain the initiative. But as it was it was always going to be
an uphill task.
"Our inconsistency is the
biggest thing, we were terrific against Fulham. But you have to put a
run
together, otherwise you're taking two steps forward and one back.
"You
have to earn the right to play, especially at Stoke, you know you'll
get pressed. We have to find it otherwise we'll never progress, but this
was just too easy."
Suarez was booed when
the announcer at the Britannia Stadium read out his name before the game
as the home faithful did not forget the dive that the Uruguayan pulled
off at Anfield in the October meeting of these two.
While
Suarez did not get anything for that then, it was hard to argue against
the referee's decision to hand Liverpool a penalty in the second minute
of this clash.
Early penalty
Ryan Shawcross tugged Suarez's shirt in the area and the Reds striker went down before Gerrard calmly slotted home the penalty.
Ryan Shawcross tugged Suarez's shirt in the area and the Reds striker went down before Gerrard calmly slotted home the penalty.
"For the penalty, Shawcross got caught a bit square and flat, he was caught out, Suarez did brilliantly," explained Pulis.
However,
just three minutes later Shawcross helped Stoke to get level as Jones
nodded on to Walters and the Republic of Ireland international raced
through before firing home.
Jones then made it three goals in 12 minutes as the Stoke striker rose to head home Glenn Whelan's corner above Daniel Agger
Raheem
Sterling came on for Suso at the break and the winger almost made an
instant impact with a cross for Suarez but the Uruguayan fluffed his
effort well wide.
Andy Wilkinson's long throw in the 49th minute made it 3-1 as he found Jones who nodded on again for Walters.
This
time he rose to chest the ball and turn before volleying past Pepe
Reina who could not keep the ball out despite getting his fingertips to
it.
"Walters epitomises everything we do at this club, his attitude and commitment is fabulous," said Pulis.
The
Stoke fans sang "3-1 to the rugby team" as Liverpool pressed forward
with Gerrard's late chance that forced Asmir Begovic into a decent stop
their only late chance of note.
Source:FIFA