Updated Feb 3, 2011 4:06 AM ET Luis Suarez scored on his debut as Liverpool concluded a turbulent few days with a valuable 2-0 Premier League victory at home to Stoke. The Uruguayan slotted home the Reds' second goal of Wednesday's game in front of the Kop to ensure Fernando Torres' £50million move to Chelsea was no longer the major talking point. And if questions were being asked about how the Reds would cope in their former striker's absence, then efforts by Suarez and Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles - with his third goal in four matches - provided a swift answer at Anfield.
Record £35million signing Andy Carroll's introduction to the crowd before kick-off was the closest he is likely to get to the pitch for a month as he recovers from a thigh injury. Unfortunately for Liverpool this was exactly the sort of game from which they would have benefited from the 6ft 3in powerhouse striker. Conversely, it did not seem that suited his fellow new arrival, although arriving as a second-half substitute with his side already ahead made the task much easier. The ball spent much of the first half in the air, which benefited Stoke far more than it did their hosts, and as a result Dirk Kuyt found his role as lone frontman a frustrating one at times. Saying that, he had at least three chances of which at least one would probably have been converted by Torres. Manager Kenny Dalglish had tailored Liverpool's formation specifically for the Potters, lining up 3-4-2-1 with Lucas Leiva and Fabio Aurelio holding in midfield and Steven Gerrard and Meireles supporting the Holland international up front. The first chance fell to Sotirios Kyrgiakos, returning to the team in that back three to combat the aerial threat of John Carew, as he headed Gerrard's corner goalwards only for former Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao to clear two yards out. Jon Walters fired over an angled shot from 10 yards and Carew headed over another ex-Red Jermaine Pennant's right-wing cross, with the hosts having penalty claims turned down when the ball appeared to hit Robert Huth's hand. Stoke's tactics of keeping everything compact squeezed the life out of Liverpool and disrupted their passing game. Suarez's appearance off the bench to jog down the touchline brought a standing ovation from the Kop, who as a result almost missed Asmir Begovic's brilliant reaction save to keep out Glen Johnson's close-range header. Kuyt nodded wide Gerrard's cross and volleyed over from close range before shooting straight at the Stoke goalkeeper when a rare passing move involving Brazilians Lucas and Aurelio cut open the defence.
Within two minutes of the second half resuming Diao was booked for bringing down the advancing Daniel Agger and from the resulting free-kick Liverpool, somewhat fortuitously, took the lead. Gerrard's low, driven free-kick deflected off Marc Wilson on the end of the wall to Kyrgiakos 12 yards out and although Huth nicked the ball off the defender Meireles was on hand to smash home left-footed. Carew almost snatched an equaliser on the counter-attack with a shot which flashed across goalkeeper Jose Reina and wide of the far post before, just after the hour Suarez got his chance to start repaying his £22.8million transfer fee - a club record for a few hours on Monday. His first contribution was to engage Abdoulaye Faye in a sprint which resulted in the Stoke centre-back pulling a hamstring. One clever backheel to set up Martin Skrtel showed the Uruguayan was not short of confidence, despite not playing a game since December 8 because of a seven-match suspension for biting an opponent while playing for Ajax. His next involvement was more decisive and was what the Kop had been waiting for. Kuyt's through-ball sent the forward racing through and having gone round Begovic he rolled the ball goalwards. For a few seconds it appeared Wilkinson would cut out the shot but his desperate clearance came back off the post and bounced over the line. While the crowd were still celebrating, Reina ensured there was no frantic final few minutes by punching away Walters' shot.
Updated Feb 3, 2011 4:05 AM ET Robbie Keane struck a debut goal and Victor Obinna hit two more as West Ham won 3-1 at Blackpool to lift themselves off the foot of the table. The damage was all done in the first half of Wednesday's Premier League clash as the Hammers held off a spirited Seasiders team, who replied through Charlie Adam, in an entertaining contest at Bloomfield Road. Neal Eardley hit the post and Marlon Harewood forced Robert Green to make a fine save as the hosts dominated after the break but the Hammers clung on. Keane's flying start after joining the club on loan from Tottenham and the weekend and the form of Obinna, who scored a hat-trick on his previous outing, offered much hope for manager Avram Grant.
Grant made five changes to the side which beat Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup at the weekend and the result was a vibrant first-half display. Blackpool were buoyed by the presence of their captain Adam after his widely-predicted deadline-day move to Liverpool failed to materialise. And the Scotland midfielder immediately tried to dispel any suggestions that the club's refusal to sell him might affect his game with a powerful run in the opening minute. Midfield partner David Vaughan also looked keen to influence proceedings as the Seasiders, with new signing Andy Reid on debut, played their usual attacking game. But it was West Ham who had the better of the opportunities in a lively opening. Richard Kingson was twice called into action early on, firstly to save a close-range shot from Obinna after Keane's scuffed effort diverted a Frederic Piquionne cross into his path. The Ghana goalkeeper then plucked a long-range strike from Gary O'Neil, who was making his full Hammers debut, out of the air with little difficulty. The visitors had another chance when Mark Noble's drive rebounded to Parker but the Hammers talisman fired well wide. Kingson was nearly caught out when Craig Cathcart almost turned a Bridge shot into his own net but he made a quick reaction save to his right. The Tangerines keeper was at fault, however, as West Ham claimed the lead after 24 minutes. Kingson looked to have Obinna's ambitious shot from wide on the left covered but let it slip from his grasp and roll over the line. It was a timely moment to score as it soon became apparent West Ham had injury problems. During one stoppage in play James Tomkins, Wayne Bridge and Danny Gabbidon all went down in apparent pain.
Gabbidon was unable to continue and was replaced by Winston Reid but, despite obvious discomfort, Tomkins limped on while Bridge quickly recovered. Reid went close to an equaliser after a poor clearance from Tomkins fell to him outside the area but Green brilliantly palmed over his long-range effort. West Ham doubled their lead on 37 minutes as Keane made his mark. Blackpool got themselves into a mess at the back as Noble lobbed a free-kick into the area after Parker was felled. Kingson twice saved from Obinna in quick succession but got no help from his defenders and Keane's sliced effort found the net before it could be cleared. Blackpool immediately responded as Adam found the back of the net direct from a corner, Frederic Piquionne completely missing his kick at the near post and unsighting Green. Yet the Tangerines' joy was short-lived as Obinna restored a two-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time with a ferocious shot from 20 yards. The game tightened up in the second half as West Ham looked to deny Blackpool any further way of getting back into the game. The midfield battle intensified and after Noble and Adam collided, Parker was booked for a late challenge on Vaughan. Blackpool manager Ian Holloway decided to go for all-out attack on the hour, sending on two more strikers in new signing James Beattie and former West Ham forward Harewood. Beattie, who joined the club on loan from Rangers on Monday, had a chance moments after coming on but failed to make firm contact and Green easily gathered. Neal Eardley went close to pulling one back but his 20-yard free-kick struck the post and West Ham scrambled clear. Blackpool kept up the pressure with Adam flashing a shot narrowly wide and Reid making a vital clearance. A good run by DJ Campbell caused further alarm but a fluffed backheel by Gary Taylor-Fletcher ended a promising attack. Harewood forced Green into a fine save in injury time but the Hammers celebrated a crucial win.
Updated Feb 3, 2011 4:05 AM ET Robbie Keane struck a debut goal and Victor Obinna hit two more as West Ham won 3-1 at Blackpool to lift themselves off the foot of the table. The damage was all done in the first half of Wednesday's Premier League clash as the Hammers held off a spirited Seasiders team, who replied through Charlie Adam, in an entertaining contest at Bloomfield Road. Neal Eardley hit the post and Marlon Harewood forced Robert Green to make a fine save as the hosts dominated after the break but the Hammers clung on. Keane's flying start after joining the club on loan from Tottenham and the weekend and the form of Obinna, who scored a hat-trick on his previous outing, offered much hope for manager Avram Grant.
Grant made five changes to the side which beat Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup at the weekend and the result was a vibrant first-half display. Blackpool were buoyed by the presence of their captain Adam after his widely-predicted deadline-day move to Liverpool failed to materialise. And the Scotland midfielder immediately tried to dispel any suggestions that the club's refusal to sell him might affect his game with a powerful run in the opening minute. Midfield partner David Vaughan also looked keen to influence proceedings as the Seasiders, with new signing Andy Reid on debut, played their usual attacking game. But it was West Ham who had the better of the opportunities in a lively opening. Richard Kingson was twice called into action early on, firstly to save a close-range shot from Obinna after Keane's scuffed effort diverted a Frederic Piquionne cross into his path. The Ghana goalkeeper then plucked a long-range strike from Gary O'Neil, who was making his full Hammers debut, out of the air with little difficulty. The visitors had another chance when Mark Noble's drive rebounded to Parker but the Hammers talisman fired well wide. Kingson was nearly caught out when Craig Cathcart almost turned a Bridge shot into his own net but he made a quick reaction save to his right. The Tangerines keeper was at fault, however, as West Ham claimed the lead after 24 minutes. Kingson looked to have Obinna's ambitious shot from wide on the left covered but let it slip from his grasp and roll over the line. It was a timely moment to score as it soon became apparent West Ham had injury problems. During one stoppage in play James Tomkins, Wayne Bridge and Danny Gabbidon all went down in apparent pain.
Gabbidon was unable to continue and was replaced by Winston Reid but, despite obvious discomfort, Tomkins limped on while Bridge quickly recovered. Reid went close to an equaliser after a poor clearance from Tomkins fell to him outside the area but Green brilliantly palmed over his long-range effort. West Ham doubled their lead on 37 minutes as Keane made his mark. Blackpool got themselves into a mess at the back as Noble lobbed a free-kick into the area after Parker was felled. Kingson twice saved from Obinna in quick succession but got no help from his defenders and Keane's sliced effort found the net before it could be cleared. Blackpool immediately responded as Adam found the back of the net direct from a corner, Frederic Piquionne completely missing his kick at the near post and unsighting Green. Yet the Tangerines' joy was short-lived as Obinna restored a two-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time with a ferocious shot from 20 yards. The game tightened up in the second half as West Ham looked to deny Blackpool any further way of getting back into the game. The midfield battle intensified and after Noble and Adam collided, Parker was booked for a late challenge on Vaughan. Blackpool manager Ian Holloway decided to go for all-out attack on the hour, sending on two more strikers in new signing James Beattie and former West Ham forward Harewood. Beattie, who joined the club on loan from Rangers on Monday, had a chance moments after coming on but failed to make firm contact and Green easily gathered. Neal Eardley went close to pulling one back but his 20-yard free-kick struck the post and West Ham scrambled clear. Blackpool kept up the pressure with Adam flashing a shot narrowly wide and Reid making a vital clearance. A good run by DJ Campbell caused further alarm but a fluffed backheel by Gary Taylor-Fletcher ended a promising attack. Harewood forced Green into a fine save in injury time but the Hammers celebrated a crucial win.