Liverpool vs. Stoke: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Liverpool cruised to an easy 4-1 win over Stoke City during Sunday's Premier League action, powered by a brace from in-form youngster Divock Origi.

Alberto Moreno gave the Reds an early lead, and while Bojan Krkic managed to pull his side level midway through the first half, Liverpool still entered half-time ahead thanks to Daniel Sturridge.

Origi secured the win in the second half with two more goals, building on his strong showing against Borussia Dortmund on Thursday.

As shared by the club's official Twitter account, Liverpool started without a number of key players, likely with an eye on next Thursday's UEFA Europa League second leg with Dortmund. Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Origi all took a spot on the bench:

The Reds started sloppy in possession, and Bojan took advantage early, taking aim for long range but firing his shot well wide of the post. The Spaniard and Peter Crouch then combined well on the edge of the box, but Martin Skrtel was there to ensure Simon Mignolet wasn't tested.

It was a difficult start for Liverpool, but with their first real look on goal, the hosts took the lead. James Milner quickly took a free-kick while the Stoke players were arguing, and Moreno unleashed a fantastic shot from 30 yards that gave goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard no chance.

Per James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, the Spaniard was overdue for a goal:

The early lead gave Liverpool plenty of momentum, and Moreno nearly found a second after a lovely counter-attack, but he couldn't work the ball past Haugaard and the flag had been raised for offside.

Roberto Fimino nearly found Sturridge with a clever back-heel, but Philipp Wollscheid read it well and intervened at just the right time.

Stoke started to press a little, and two minutes after Skrtel made another key interception, Bojan pulled his team level. Xherdan Shaqiri lofted a great ball into the box from a free-kick, and Bojan timed his run to perfection―although he was helped by Kolo Toure, per Dominic King of the Daily Mail:

The setback seemed to wake the Reds up, and manager Jurgen Klopp's troops came forward again in search of a second goal. That left the side susceptible to the counter-attack, however, and Crouch thought he had given his team the lead with a header, only to learn the linesman had raised his flag.

Sturridge powered a fantastic shot just inches wide of Haugaard's goal, but he had more success two minutes later, as Sheyi Ojo delivered a fantastic cross into the box and the England international headed his team back in front. Per Andy Kelly of the Liverpool Echo, it was a beautiful attacking move:

Lucas Leiva also loved it, per the club's official Twitter account:

Stoke refused to lie down and kept pushing for an equaliser, and on more than one occasion Liverpool's defence looked shaky. Nathaniel Clyne handed the visitors a great chance by handling the ball, but Ryan Shawcross just missed the target after another fine delivery from Shaqiri.

Giannelli Imbula tried his luck from 30 yards out, but goalkeeper Mignolet got down quickly and pushed the ball away from danger before any of Stoke's forwards could pounce. The last chance of the half fell to the hosts, as Clyne went on a marauding run through the box before meeting Haugaard in his path.

At half-time, the Anfield Wrap gave his assessment of Liverpool's performance, reserving special praise for Ojo's lovely assist:

Origi made his way onto the pitch to start the second half, with Ojo taking a spot on the bench after a solid first-half performance. 

The Belgian made an immediate impact, looking lively and involved, and he doubled the Reds' lead with a powerful header just five minutes into the second half after Liverpool worked a corner kick short.

Pearce pointed at Milner's wonderful delivery as the key to the goal:

Firmino nearly added a fourth goal after a horrible mistake from Erik Pieters, but fortunately for the Stoke man, his clearance that bounced off Firmino and looped toward the goal landed just over the cross bar.

At the other end, Mignolet made a spectacular save to deny Geoff Cameron, who beat everyone to yet another fine cross from Shaqiri.

Liverpool were in control at this point, however, and Firmino tested Haugaard again with a smart header. Pieters seemed rattled after his earlier mistake, and he nearly fluffed a routine header back to his goalkeeper, heading it wide of Haugaard and out for a corner. 

Stoke had no answers, and Origi added another goal to his tally after 65 minutes, curling home after a clever run down the left wing. Per WhoScored.com, he became the first Liverpool player to bag a brace since January:

The win takes Liverpool past Stoke City in the standings and up to eighth place, just four points behind West Ham United, who hold the final Europa league ticket.

Liverpool will meet Borussia Dortmund in the return leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, before travelling to Bournemouth on Sunday. Stoke's next outing will be at home against title hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.

Post-Match Reaction

As shared by LFC TV, Klopp reserved special praise for his youngsters:

The young guns certainly came through in a big way, as Ojo unlocked Stoke's defence during a difficult first half and Origi ended the contest with his brace in the second.

The duo and their team-mates kept the Reds on track in the Premier League without wasting precious energy ahead of Thursday's pivotal match against Dortmund. Overall, Klopp can be very happy with what he saw out of his squad.

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