Full-Time: Liverpool falls 1-0 at Stoke City. The Reds fail to unlock Stoke's dogged defense and suffer their first loss of the season. Shame that the only difference between the two teams was the questionable penalty call in the first half. But, like Nina Simone said, "It Be's that way sometimes." That's all for now. Check back later for a full match report.
95th minute, 1-0: Cross comes in, Begovich mis-hits the punch, which falls beautifully to Suarez. The Uruguayan hits the half-volley wide of the goal. Chance squandered.
91st minute, 1-0: Sliding Upson intercepts Suarez's attempted cutback. Ball clearly hits the defender's arm, but no penalty given. Suarez gives the linesman an earful … en Espanol? Maybe. Because no penalty was given.
90th minute, 1-0: Five minutes of added time have been given, which is met with a chorus of boos from the home crowd.
88th minute, 1-0: With the game reaching it's dying minutes, it just might not happen for LFC today. Stoke packed deep in their end, determined to hold on for all three points. Desperate crosses from deep won't do the trick against the giant Stoke defenders.
81st minute, 1-0: Glen Johnson returns from injury and replaces Skrtel. Should give LFC more attacking thrust on the right. Could also leave an opening for a counter.
79th minute, 1-0: Suarez turns and drives a shot to the far-post. Begovich saves. Not much comes from ensuing corner.
71st minute, 1-0: Palacios comes on for Delap and gets a warm welcome from the Stoke fans on his debut. Let's see if he fits in with a rash challenge or two.
70th minute, 1-0: Enrique overlaps on the left and crosses to Downing at the far post. Begovich comfortably handles the header.
68th minute, 1-0: Dalgilish looks to turn the game with his substitutions. Henderson and Kuyt off. Carroll and Bellamy on. Jones on for Walters (for Stoke).
61st minute, 1-0: The game comes to life, with Enrique sending Henderson through alone on goal. Begovich pulls of a great double save. Adam's following shot blocked by Upson. He gets the rebound, shoots again, only to be denied by Begovich to complete the triple save!
54th minute, 1-0: Reds raising the attacking tempo against the determined Potters. Results in a succession of corner kicks, but nothing comes of it. Stokes defenders are all too many and all too tall.
Halftime, 1-0: Stoke lead Liverpool after a physical and testy first half. Suarez fouled by Delap shortly before the break.
@dmaciejewski asks, "Is Delap going to have to produce a weapon to get booked?! Shocking challenge. Even more shocking refereeing." Good question.
41st minute, 1-0: The ever-menacing Suarez turns Upson in the box, but can't get too much power or accuracy on his shot. Begovich handles at the near post. First shot on goal for the Reds.
36th minute, 1-0: Suarez turns on the left, cuts it back and Skrtel — bombing down the right — meets it with a thundering shot that probably landed 30-40 rows deep behind the Stoke goal.
25th minute, 1-0: Begovich parries a Henderson cross from the right, which falls to Suarez. The Uruguayan's shot blocked by Upson. Great chance.
21st minute, 1-0: Goal for Stoke City. Walters earns and then converts the penalty. The young forward was fed over the top and had a step on Carragher. The LFC defender was penalized for wrapping his arm around Walters, but it was a play that goes unpunished on any given weekend all over the world.
17th minute, 0-0: LFC threatening in Stoke's area. Adam's corner headed by Agger, but LFC can't find space between the trees in Stoke's defense. Danger averted.
9th minute, 0-0: Carragher back on after leaving the field for a few moments with a small knock.
10 a.m.: Here are the starting lineups.
Liverpool
Pepe Reina (25), goalkeeper
Martin Skrtel (37), right back
Jamie Carragher (23), center back
Daniel Agger (5), center back
Jose Enrique (38), left back
Charlie Adam (26), midfielder
Lucas (21), midfielder
Stuart Downing (19), midfielder
Jordan Henderson (14), midfielder
Dirk Kuyt (18), forward
Luis Suarez (7), forward
Substitutes
Doni (32)
Glen Johnson(2)
Sebastian Coates(16)
Jay Spearing (20)
Maxi Rodriguez(11)
Craig Bellamy (39)
Andy Carroll (9)
Stoke City
Asmir Begovich (1), goalkeeper
Matthew Upson (20), defender
Ryan Shawcross (17), defender
Marc Wilson (12), defender
Robert Huth (4), defender
Dean Whitehead (18), midfield
Rory Delap (24), midfield
Matthew Etherington (26), midfield
Jermaine Pennant (16), midfield
Peter Crouch (25), forward
Jonathan Walters (19), forward
Substitutes
Thomas Sorensen (29), goalkeeper
Andy Wilkinson (28), defender
Ryan Shotton (30), defender
Glenn Whelan (6), midfield
Wilson Palacios (40), midfielder
Kenwyne Jones (9), forward
Cameron Jerome (33) forward
12 a.m. ET: Liverpool FC returns to action on Saturday after last weekend's break from league play. The Reds (2-0-1) take on Stoke City (1-0-2) at Britannia Stadium. NESN.com will cover the game on our live blog and bring you all the action as it happens.
LFC players Dirk Kuyt and Daniel Agger performed well for their countries in Euro 2012 qualification games this past week. Kuyt scored a goal and set up two more in Holland's 11-0 mauling of minnows San Marino. Agger captained Denmark and marshalled the defense in Denmark's 2-0 win over Norway on Tuesday.
The Reds have no major injuries to report. Charlie Adam is the only concern. The midfielder was held out of Scotland’s 1-0 win over Lithuania on Tuesday as a precaution after feeling some pain in his hip. Adam should be available for selection against Stoke City.
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has added to his ranks with midfielder Wilson Palacios and striker Peter Crouch. The pair joined Stoke in an £18M ($28.8M) package deal from Tottenham. Both could make their debuts against LFC.
Join us Saturday at 10 a.m. ET for NESN.com’s live blog of Stoke-Liverpool, as the Reds shoot for their third win of the season.