Downing and Suarez highlighted the effort with strikes of the highest quality.
For a while, Stoke looked like it might end a 53-year winless run at Anfield. Suarez's opener was cancelled out by Crouch's header. Stoke had a confident look after a first half during which it was every bit LFC's equal.
Downing's goal gave the Reds a huge psychological lift, and the Potters could not match the intensity of their opponents when it mattered most. Pulis' substitutions were aimed at scoring the second, but all it did was give Liverpool more space to attack.
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94th minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Kuyt turns and creates an opening that ends with cross in Carroll's direction.
LFC wins a corner, and this could be enough for the Reds to see out the game.
91st minute, 2-1 Liverpool: There will be five minutes of stoppage time, making for a nervy end to this game.
89th minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Coates comes on for Kelly, and Henderson replaces Suarez.
The LFC forward is limping off after taking a knock from Huth.
82nd minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Kuyt sends Kelly in on goal, but Shawcross intervenes at the last second to deny the LFC fullback a goal.
Kelly stayed on the ground for a minute or two, but he's up and running again.
80th minute, 2-1 Liverpool: The Reds have continued to improve as the game nears its end.
They are firmly in control of things, and are finding it easier to create openings in Stoke defense.
Spearing's shot went well high and wide of the goal, but the build-up between Suarez and him was sharp and incisive.
74th minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Throw-in artist Delap comes on for Whitehead.
72nd minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Jerome comes into the game and takes Etherington's place.
Eherington had little influence on the game after he was crunched by Kelly early on.
68th minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Suarez tries to beat Sorensen from distance, but his effort is met with a diving save.
The Reds have ratcheted up their intensity by a notch or two since Downing's goal.
They know that another goal will almost surely earn them a spot in the FA Cup semifinal.
64th minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Kuyt tests Sorenesen with a drive from distance, but the Danish goalkeeper was in the right spot to catch it without much trouble.
Kuyt has taken up residence on the right, and Downing has switched to the left side.
61st minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Both managers are changing things up.
Pennant enters for Shotton, while Kuyt takes Maxi's place.
The Argentine does not seem happy about it.
58th minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Downing picks a great time to score his second goal for LFC.
He combined with Gerrard at the top of the area to create the chance, and his left foot finished the job.
The LFC winger cut in from the right and passed to Gerrard near the arc. The captain played it back to Downing with a back-heel. One touch created the space he needed, and he powered his left-footed shot past a helpless Sorensen.
53rd minute, 1-1: Suarez comes ever so close to giving the Reds the lead.
His flashing header goes just wide of the goal. It was delivered with plenty of pace, but he wasn't able to direct it on target.
49th minute, 1-1: LFC and Stoke have played seven halves of soccer against each other this season.
The first five minutes of the eighth shows how familiar these teams are. There's little space, things are even and any difference will boil down to the finer details of the game.
Halftime, 1-1: The first half comes to a close, with the score tied.
LFC hasn't been at its best in this game, but Suarez conjured up a bit of magic to give his team a short-lived lead.
Crouch underlined Stoke's intent by scoring a goal against his former club.
38th minute, 1-1: Aside from Downing's wayward shot, it's been all Stoke City for the last few minutes.
Crouch's goal filed the visitors with belief, and they are pressuring the Reds all over the field.
LFC has taken a direct approach, looking to find Suarez and Carroll on the break. But it's just not working out at the moment.
30th minute, 1-1: Wilkinson is booked for a tackle from behind on Suarez.
26th minute, 1-1: And Crouch ties the game. The Potters have responded forcefully to Suarez's goal, winning a succession of corner kicks.
They were able to convert the third, and it was the former LFC striker who did the damage.
The unmarked striker was able to attack a corner kick and head it past Reina. Carroll was assigned to mark the England international, but was nowhere near him on the goal.
There's a bit of controversy on the goal, as Shotton was standing in front of the LFC goalkeeper. He wasn't holding Reina, and the referee wasn't interested in waving the goal off. Reina's protests earned him a yellow card in the end.
23rd minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Stoke nearly responds, as Wilkinson crosses from the right into the danger zone.
Walters and Crouch nearly get their heads to it, but Kelly marshals it out in the end.
21st minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Right on command, it's Suarez who gives Liverpool the lead.
He combines with Maxi on a neat one-two before bending a thunderbolt past Sorensen from distance.
20th minute, 0-0: After 20 minutes, it's safe to say nothing will come easy for LFC against Stoke.
The Potters have kept their shape and focus, making it difficult for the Reds to play with their usual swashbuckling approach.
It will require LFC's big personalities to step forward and take control of the proceedings.
15th minute, 0-0: Whelan goes into the referee's book for a mistimed challenge on Spearing.
12th minute, 0-0: Crouch's header is saved by Reina.
Stoke isn't looking to deep and wait for the Liverpool to attack. The visitors have, uncharacteristically, had as much possession as the Reds.
It's an encouraging sign for the neutrals, but could be worrying for LFC supporters.
Fifth minute, 0-0: Kelly is booked for a hard challenge on Etherington.
The Stoke City winger is down and looks to be in considerable pain.
Kelly will need to be on his best behavior for the rest of the game, and it's likely Etherington will see a lot of the ball.
Third minute, 0-0: It's Maxi who has the game's first look at goal. He heads a free-kick just wide of Sorensen's goal.
Pregame: Dalglish injects a bit of guile into his starting 11 by replacing Henderson with Maxi.
The Argentine veteran faces a sizable task in cracking the Stoke City rear-guard. But the visitors will have their hands full trying to contain Suarez, Gerrard and Henderson.
The Potters have pinned their own scoring hopes on Crouch and Walters. Ricardo Fuller is suspended after being sent off in Stoke's last game.
Etherington has enjoyed a fine season, and the winger will be a danger man on the left side of Stoke's midfield.
11:30 a.m.: Here are the lineups:
Liverpool
Pepe Reina (25), goalkeeper
Martin Kelly (34), right back
Martin Skrtel (37), center back
Jamie Carragher (23), center back
Jose Enrique (3), left back
Jay Spearing (20), midfielder
Steve Gerrard (8), midfielder
Stuart Downing (19), midfielder
Maxi (11), forward
Luis Suarez (7), forward
Andy Carroll (9), striker
Substitutes
Doni (32), goalkeeper
Sebastian Coates (16), defender
Jon Flanagan (38), defender
Charlie Adam (26), midfielder
Jonjo Shelvey (33), midfielder
Jordan Henderson (14), midfielder
Dirk Kuyt (18), forward
Stoke City
Thomas Sorensen (29), goalkeeper
Andy Wilkinson (28), right back
Ryan Shawcross (17), center back
Robert Huth (4), center back
Marc Wilson (12), left back
Ryan Shotton (30), midfielder
Dean Whitehead (18), midfielder
Glenn Whelan (6), midfielder
Matthew Etherington (26), midfielder
Jonathan Walters (19), forward
Peter Crouch (25), forward
Substitutes
Carlo Nash (27), goalkeeper
Matthew Upson (20), defender
Jermaine Pennant (16), midfield
Wilson Palacios (40), midfielder
Rory Delap (24), midfielder
Cameron Jerome (33), forward
Kenwyne Jones (9), striker
12:00 a.m. ET: Liverpool is 90 minutes away from another trip to Wembley Stadium, and Stoke City is standing in the way. The Potters visit Anfield for a FA Cup quarterfinal on Sunday.
It will be the fourth time the two familiar foes have faced off this season. But the stakes have never been this high. Stoke has the advantage in Premier League play, having won its home game, and frustrating its way to a draw on the road.
Stoke's season started with European dreams, but the demands of league, cup, and continental play have tested its limits. It sits 14th in the league, and saw its maiden Europa League voyage end in Valencia, Spain last month. The FA Cup quarterfinal will be Stoke's main focus, as a win could Tony Pulis' team within striking distance of European qualification.
Cups have been LFC's forte this season, and the Reds will look to go from strength to strength. Tuesday's win over Everton created some momentum, so the home fans will expect more of the same from their heroes.
Kenny Dalglish will be able to field a strong squad. Steve Gerrard, Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez will be LFC's main threats, while Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel will marshal the defense.
Catch all the action from Liverpool-Stoke City right here at 12:00 p.m.
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