In the end everything came together for Liverpool but this was a curious way to win three points, as Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino came off the bench to breathe fresh life into a team that had been sleepwalking towards defeat. On another day they would be called inspired substitutions and Jürgen Klopp would take the credit, although on this occasion it seemed more pertinent to ask why two players who were fit enough to be in the match-day squad were unable to make the starting XI.
From Liverpool’s point of view, the main thing is that they won an awkward game, showing character to come from behind and punish a Stoke City team that are in danger of being dragged into a relegation scrap. Coutinho hauled Liverpool level after Jonathan Walters had put Stoke ahead in the first half, and Firmino completed the turnaround two minutes later with a goal of the highest quality.
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