Stoke, Sep 10: Jonathan Walters scored a first-half penalty to give Stoke a 1-0 home win against Liverpool on Saturday to halt the Anfield club's unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Liverpool had taken just two points from three previous visits to the Britannia stadium and struggled again with Stoke's physical approach.
Walters got the decisive breakthrough after Jamie Carragher fouled him in the box and the Stoke striker smashed the 21st-minute penalty past Jose Reina.
Stoke's 10-million pound signing Peter Crouch started against his former club, with Kenwyne Jones relegated to the bench.
Liverpool pushed hard for an equalizer after the break, but Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic made a double save from Henderson and Luis Suarez missed a late chance.
Liverpool has now lost its last two matches against Stoke, but was unlucky to slip to a first league defeat of the season after dominating possession but failing to find a way past the stubborn home defense.
Liverpool's best early chance went to waste when Luis Suarez just failed to reach Charlie Adam's cross.
The opening goal came from a simple ball over the top which caught Carragher out of position. The Reds defender looked to have made good ground to get back at Walters, but the Stoke forward went down with Carragher's arm around his waist and referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot. The player picked himself up to drill a shot straight down the middle of the goal.
Stoke concentrated on shackling Suarez -- as displayed by a sprawling Ryan Shawcross who smothered one near-post shot -- sometimes with two defenders, but the Uruguayan still found ways of getting past.
He easily turned Robert Huth on the left and crossed to the far side of the penalty area where an onrushing Skrtel appeared to be clipped by Etherington just before he blazed a shot over.
The match burst into action just past the hour as Liverpool had five shots in the space of 20 seconds but still could not find a way through.
Jose Enrique's through ball sent Jordan Henderson racing clear through the middle but he side-footed his first shot straight at Begovic, the goalkeeper made a good save from the follow-up and Matthew Upson's chest blocked the third.
The danger was not over as the loose ball dropped to Adam's dangerous left foot but Shawcross blocked his first effort from the edge of the penalty area and Begovic got back to stop the rebound.
Liverpool coach Kenny Dalglish introduced loan signing Craig Bellamy and Andy Carroll for Henderson and Dirk Kuyt, making a three-pronged attack for the final 20 minutes.
Suarez was convinced he should have had a penalty when his cross hit Upson's arm but neither referee Mark Clattenburg nor his assistant spotted the infringement.
The Uruguay striker had a final chance to equalize when Begovic and Shawcross got in each other's way but he stabbed wide with the goal gaping. AP
