Stoke City v Liverpool: half time report
Stoke City 0 Liverpool 0
Stoke and Liverpool remain level-pegging at half-time in their Premier League clash after an uninspiring first half.
After last Monday's dramatic 3-2 victory against Birmingham City, the atmosphere inside the Britannia Stadium was once again raucous.
And the home faithful were nearly rewarded for their impressive vocal support as both Dean Whitehead and Kenwyne Jones went close around the 10 minute mark.
A Rory Delap throw-in caused trouble inside the Liverpool penalty area, which led to the ball bouncing out to Whitehead, 25 yards from goal. His driven effort tested Pepe Reina, but the Spaniard was equal to the strike, and from the resulting corner Jones headed narrowly wide.
Stoke continued to press and, typically, looked at their most dangerous every time Delap launched the ball into the box. Midway through the first-half, the Potters almost broke the deadlock again, this time through Jermaine Pennant, but the Reds just about managed to clear their lines.
It took Liverpool 28 minutes to test Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. A long-range strike from Steven Gerrard was goal-bound, but the Bosnian shot-stopper pushed the ball round his right post.
Before that Roy Hodgson's side had looked bereft of ideas in the attacking third and lacked the same drive and enthusiasm as their opponents.
Matthew Etherington could have put the hosts 1-0 up after meeting a Jones cross deep inside the Liverpool box, but the winger's effort trickled wide.
The visitors picked up towards the end of the half and began to pass the ball around neatly, and Hodgson will now be looking for some cutting edge over the course of the remaining 45 minutes.
But it was Stoke who continued to look the most likely to score, and Tony Pulis will be more than content with what he's seen so far.
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