MANCHESTER UNITED VS NEWCASTLE
The Premier League leaders twice came from behind in a match of controversy and thrilling excitement.
James Perch gave Newcastle an early lead before Jonny Evans scored first at the right end, then the wrong one amid uproar over an offside that was withdrawn by ref Mike Dean.
Patrice Evra restored parity just before the hour only for Papiss Cisse to put Newcastle in front again.
Robin van Persie quickly equalised and Manchester United missed a host of chances before Hernandez finally netted the winner in the final minute of normal time.
Manchester City's unexpected defeat to Sunderland means United go seven points clear at the half-way point in the Premier League season.
The absence of Wayne Rooney from the Manchester United team sheet caused an immediate stir, especially in light of his axeing from the side last festive season following a Boxing Day night out.
United were quick to issue a statement saying Rooney and Ashley Young had been injured in training, while Danny Welbeck was taken ill overnight.
The embryonic controversy was blown out of the water by 90 minutes of nearly unbroken incident.
Perch gave Newcastle the lead on four minutes after David De Gea spilled a seemingly innocuous Demba Ba shot.
Manchester United were off the pace with their central midfield pairing of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes showing their years.
Evans levelled on 25 minutes when Newcastle failed to clear a free-kick, Hernandez saw a shot parried and the defender tucked away the rebound.
Danny Simpson hit a 25-yard shot from the right side when Papiss Cisse was in an offside position.
As the ball came in Evans, who was marking Cisse, touched the ball into his own net.
The offside flag went up against Cisse, but after prolonged discussion with his linesman referee Mike Dean allowed the goal.
The officials' rationale was that Cisse, who did not touch the ball or block De Gea's view, was not interfering with play.
Alex Ferguson predictably flew into a rage, berating both the referee and his assistant. He will feel that a striker three yards from goal is always interfering, and that Evans would not have scored an own goal had Cisse not been there.
Despite Ferguson's fury, by the letter of the law the referee's decision was probably correct - and he might have focussed on his own team's sub-standard performance rather than lash out at the officials.
Sylvain Marveaux hit the bar with a free-kick as the home side repaired to their dressing room lucky to be just a goal down.
Evra made a captain's contribution on 58 minutes, firing home from the edge of the box for his second goal in as many games and his fourth of the season.
But Cisse put Newcastle back in front when he converted a low pull-back from United old boy Gabriel Obertan.
Almost immediately, Van Persie found the bottom-right corner at the second attempt to make it three-all and a home win seemed inevitable.
Hernandez missed a hat-trick of presentable chances - one a sitter of a header from eight yards - while Van Persie and Antonio Valencia also finished errantly.
At the other end, Sammy Ameobi saw a shot clang back off the post, but the final word went to Hernandez.
The Mexican timed his run perfectly to meet Michael Carrick's through ball and slide the ball under Krul to settle one of the games of the season.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Patrice Evra (Manchester United): A captain's performance from the Frenchman as he rose above the mayhem to produce a telling contribution.
PLAYER RATINGS
MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea 5; Smalling 6, Ferdinand 6, Evans 7, Evra (c) 7; Valencia 7, Carrick 7, Scholes 5, Giggs 5; Van Persie 7, Hernandez 7. Subs: Fletcher N/A, Cleverley 6.
NEWCASTLE: Krul 7; Simpson 7, Williamson 6, Coloccini (c) 7, Santon 6; Anita 6, Perch 7, Bigirimana 7; Cisse 7, Ba 6, Marveaux 7. Subs: Obertan 7, Sammy Ameobi N/A, Shola Ameobi 6.
EVERTON VS WIGAN
Phil Jagielka's header proved crucial as Everton edged out valiant Wigan 2-1 at a rain-drenched Goodison Park.
David Moyes' men retained fourth place in the Premier League with victory - Leon Osman's deflected opener and Jagielka's excellent effort rendering Arouna Kone's late response mere consolation.
The hosts were wayward with several early attempts with Sylvain Distin the first to fail to find the target from Thomas Hitzlsperger's 11th-minute corner.
A clearer opening presented itself quickly when Leighton Baines scampered towards the by-line and cut back invitingly for Steven Pienaar - only for the South African's shot to deflect wide.
Strikers Nikica Jelavic and Victor Anichebe wasted half-chances in the air while at the other end, Ronnie Stam eventually worked home goalkeeper Tim Howard with a tame long-range drive.
The second half was a far livelier affair and Everton displayed a renewed sense of urgency from the outset - epitomised by a fantastic effort from Hitzlsperger in the 47th minute.
The Germany international neatly nutmegged the advancing James McCarthy just inside Wigan territory and pushed the ball forward before unleashing an arrowing 30-yard drive that crashed off the top of the crossbar.
Five minutes later, Goodison finally erupted - albeit to celebrate a goal reliant on fortune - when Osman's effort deflected off the under-arm of Gary Caldwell to wrong-foot Ali Al-Habsi and open the scoring.
Wigan quickly set about their search for an equaliser and were adamant they had earned a penalty on the hour-mark as Shaun Maloney bamboozled Osman in the box with a lightning step-over and went to ground.
There was little doubt that Osman had stuck his leg out late and that he had been beaten by the trick, but there appeared to be little actual contact as Maloney fell and referee Lee Mason decided the Scot's protests warranted a caution rather than a spot-kick.
Pienaar was guilty of stepping on Caldwell's leg moments later but Wigan continued to pour forward with Toffees captain Phil Neville producing a timely block to prevent Kone from levelling.
Neville was becoming the seventh player to make 500 Premier League appearances and he went on to mark the occasion with an assist 13 minutes from time - his floated cross perfectly met by Jagielka's powerful leap for a goal that seemingly buried the game.
Still Wigan would not lie down and Kone ensured a nervy final eight minutes when he held off both Distin and Jagielka to toe-poke home and halve the deficit, but Everton clung on to ensure the Latics' winless run stretched to six games.
FULHAM VS SOUTHAMPTON
Rickie Lambert's penalty cancelled out Dimitar Berbatov's opener as Fulham and Southampton drew 1-1 at Craven Cottage.
Berbatov opened the scoring with eight minutes on the clock, but despite being the better side in the first half Martin Jol's men were unable to build on their lead and endured a rough ride holding onto the slender advantage.And when Chris Baird handballed inside his own area at a corner five minutes from time, Lambert smashed home the equaliser from 12 yards despite Mark Schwarzer's best efforts.
After a patchy start to the contest in the soggy conditions at the Cottage, the home side were the first to bed into proceedings and after Steve Sidwell fired disappointingly wide from 20 yards, Berbatov broke the deadlock.
Converting from close range after the Saints defenders failed to deal with Sascha Riether’s cross from the right, the Bulgarian showed a penchant for dated memes by removing his shirt to show the message ‘Keep calm and pass me the ball’.
The joke earned him an obligatory yellow card for removing his shirt, but the hosts soon had bigger things to worry about as Southampton responded well to going behind.
Jack Cork’s drive was well held by Schwarzer while Jason Puncheon and Gaston Ramirez were kept relatively quiet on the channels before Fulham took control of the game again, winning a series of corners and attacking throws.
As rain continued to lash down in South-West London, the Cottagers almost paid the price for the difficult conditions when Schwarzer twice failed to adequately clear his lines before John Arne Riise completely lost track of the ball, allowing Cork to set up a Ramirez half-chance.
After the interval Steven Davis had two chances to bring his side back on level terms while Jason Puncheon caused countless problems for the Whites’ back line on the counter attack.
Lambert had a massive chance to score on 78 when he volleyed over the cross bar from inside the area, but would eventually finish a tough shift on a good note when referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot in the closing stages.
Fulham were furious with what they felt was a case of the striker leaning into Baird and causing his arm to drift into harm’s way, but the decision stood and Lambert converted despite Schwarzer getting his hands on the penalty.
The result gives Nigel Adkins’ side a valuable away point as they continue their attempts to move away from the bottom three, while the London club find themselves six points from safety after one win in 11.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Maya Yoshida, Southampton - A string of vital blocks and challenges helped keep the Saints in the contest until the late penalty earned them a draw.
PLAYER RATINGS
FULHAM: Schwarzer 6, Riether 7, Hangeland 6, Senderos 6, Riise 5, Dejagah 7, Sidwell 6, Baird 7, Kacanikic 6, Berbatov 7, Rodallega 6. Subs: Karagounis 5, Ruiz 6, Frei 5.
SOUTHAMPTON: K Davis 6, Clyne 6, Fonte 7, Yoshida 8, Shaw 7, Schneiderlin 6, Cork 7, S Davis 7, Puncheon 7, Ramirez 7, Lambert 6. Subs: Rodriguez 5, Guly n/a.
NORWICH VS CHELSEA
Juan Mata’s superb strike from distance proved the difference as Chelsea edged Norwich 1-0 at Carrow Road in the Premier League.
The Blues were not in as fluent or as potent form as they had shown in an 8-0 drubbing of Aston Villa, but they controlled possession and held on.Sebastian Bassong had a late chance to salvage a point for the Canaries, who grew in confidence as the game wore on, but his close-range header went straight down into the ground and over the bar.
With Manchester City sliding to defeat against Sunderland, Chelsea move to within four points of second place, with a game in hand over last season’s champions.
Interim Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez made changes from the side that ran riot against Aston Villa on Sunday, with Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard and Ramires amongst the players rested – but David Luiz did retain his berth in central midfield, partnered by the returning John Obi Mikel.
Norwich also welcomed back Grant Holt into the side, with manager Chris Hughton no doubt hoping that he could live up to his record of seven goals in his 11 matches against the traditional ‘Big Four’ clubs.
Having scored 13 goals in their last two games, Chelsea started with understandable confidence, stroking the ball around with class and applying pressure from the off.
It did not, however, translate into clear chances – Norwich, who prior to a weekend defeat at West Brom had been unbeaten in 10 Premier League games, were well-organised and resolute in defence.
Luiz had a pair of shots from range which sailed dreadfully high and wide, and early on the best chance probably fell to the hosts, with Robert Snodgrass having half a chance blocked after a cross from Anthony Pilkington.
But class began to tell, and the pressure on the Norwich defence grew stronger. Mata, unleashed by a delicate ball from Luiz, hit the side netting with a low shot, before he found his range from distance.
The goal was fashioned by Victor Moses and Oscar exchanging passes and finding a bit of space for their Spanish colleague, who did the rest with a sweet, placed shot that Mark Bunn could not reach.
Chelsea were the likelier side to score in the second half, but again clear-cut chances were at a premium.
Bunn scrambled clear an Oscar corner after pressure from Moses, before Holt went close at the other end on the counter-attack, only to be flagged for offside in any case.
Moses had the Blues’ best chance of doubling the advantage with 20 minutes to play – his chest down was out of the top draw, his half-volleyed strike as clean a whistle, but the ball crashed wide of the post.
Benitez made changes – Lampard enjoyed a 20-minute outing as Chelsea looked to shore up their lead, Eden Hazard came on for Moses and went close after linking up with the otherwise ineffective Fernando Torres, while in the dying minutes 17-year-old Dutch youngster Nathan Ake was given a couple of minutes in place of Mata.
None of those changes could make a difference – but nor could Norwich’s, whose hopes went when Bassong’s header looped over the bar.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Juan Mata (Chelsea): A moment of class from the midfielder separated the sides, but he was a constant threat and always composed for the Blues.
PLAYER RATINGS
NORWICH: Bunn 7, Martin 6, Garrido 6, Bassong 6, Turner 7, Johnson 7, Tettey 7, Snodgrass 7, Pilkington 6, Hoolahan 7, Holt 6 - Subs - E Bennett (N/A), Morison (N/A), Howson (N/A)
CHELSEA: Cech 7, Azpilicueta 7, Cahill 7, Ivanovic 7, Cole 7, Mikel 6, Luiz 6, Moses 8, Oscar 7, Mata 8, Torres 6 - Subs - Ake (N/A), Lampard 6, Hazard (N/A)
READING VS SWANSEA
Reading are off the bottom of the Premier League after a 0-0 draw with Swansea at the Madejski Stadium.
The Royals brought their run of seven straight defeats to an end and will be buoyed by their second-half display.Substitute Adam Le Fondre made an impact for the home side with a volley that was cleared off the line and also having a goal ruled out after using his hand to put the ball into the net.
Michu had Swansea’s best chance after blazing over from six yards out before hobbling off the field with a suspected knee injury.
The Spanish striker had the game’s first chance on four minutes with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
Ki Sung-Yeung then fired a free-kick over from 25 yards minutes later, while Michu then put his shot wide from ten yards after a mazy run but was penalised for a foul which saved his blushes.
The Royals, who were without Jason Roberts, Sean Morrison and Alex McCarthy due to injury, relied on the free-kicks of veteran Ian Harte to threaten.
First Jimmy Kebe lashed a shot wide from the edge of the box after Harte’s set-piece was half-cleared, while Alex Pearce then fired a header straight at Michel Vorm from a Hart free-kick but was penalised for a push.
The best chance of the half came on 28 minutes when Chris Gunter’s horrendous back-pass with his chest fell to Michu six yards out but the striker blazed over with the goal at his mercy.
Despite having 68 per cent possession, the Swans continued to be frustrated with Nathan Dyer twice blazing over from distance.
The second-half followed a similar pattern with the home side absorbing the pressure and were happy to keep men behind the ball to stifle the Swans.
That frustration was summed up by Ki hitting a rasping effort from 30 yards that flew over.
Reading relied on the counter and went close on 54 minutes when Jobi McAnuff’s low shot deflected wide for a corner.
But their lone striker Pavel Pogrebnyak was lucky to stay on the field after being booked for clattering Ashley Williams and then sliding in on Dwight Tiendalli.
The game became more even when Reading boss Brian McDermott introduced Hal Robson Kanu and Le Fondre on the hour mark.
Le Fondre was involved in the move that saw Jem Karacan’s header across goal cleared away by Ki.
That sparked the visitors into action with Wayne Routledge’s cross finding Dyer, whose header was palmed away by Adam Federici on 65 minutes.
Federici was called into action again five minutes later when he saved Ki’s rasping effort from the edge of the box.
Reading thought they had the ball in the net on 73 minutes but goal-scorer Le Fondre was booked and the goal was disallowed after the striker used his hand to knock the ball past Vorm.
The Royals were handed a boost ten minutes from time when striker Michu hobbled off with a suspected knee injury after colliding with substitute Jonathan De Guzman on the edge of the box.
Their afternoon could have got even better when Vorm’s punch clear fell to Le Fondre but the striker’s venomous volley was headed off the line by Chico Flores on 85 minutes.
Despite improving in the latter stages. Reading were unable to grab a much-needed win in the final minutes to leave them above rock-bottom QPR on goal difference while Swansea remain 11th.
MANC OF THE MATCH: Adam Federici (Reading) There were few outstanding candidates but goalkeeper Federici kept Reading in the game with key saves in the second-half for a much-needed clean sheet.
PLAYER RATINGS
READING: Federici 8, Gunter 6, Pearce 6, Mariappa 5, Harte 7, Kebe 6, Leigertwood 5, Karacan 5, McAnuff 7, Guthrie 5, Pogrebnyak 4. Subs: Le Fondre 7, Robson-Kanu 5.
SWANSEA CITY: Vorm 6, Tiendalli 5, Chico 7, Williams 6, Davies 5, Dyer 6, Britton 6, Ki 6, Moore 5, Routledge 5, Michu 6. Subs: Shechter 5, de Guzman 6, Agustien 5.
SUNDERLAND VS MANCHESTER CITY
Sunderland beat champions Manchester City 1-0 at the Stadium of Light with Adam Johnson scoring against his former club.
The winner came just eight minutes into the second half when Johnson cut inside from the right past David Silva and unleashed a left-footed shot which squirmed under Joe Hart and into the bottom corner.
However, the winner was not without controversy with the visitors adamant they should have been awarded a free-kick for a foul on Pablo Zabaleta by Craig Gardner during the build-up.
Sunderland turned in one of their best displays of the season on a day when City played only in patches, and Hart had to turn away Steven Fletcher's skidding effort and keep out Stephane Sessegnon 10 minutes from time.
However, if Johnson was the hero in front of a delighted Boxing Day crowd of 42,190, keeper Simon Mignolet deserved equal praise.
The Belgian denied Yaya Toure and Silva before the break and Sergio Aguero after it to claim a precious clean sheet and make a huge contribution towards the win.
City arrived determined not to complete an unwanted hat-trick of 1-0 league defeats on Wearside but they could not as they slipped seven points adrift of league leaders Manchester United.
They might have been ahead with just eight minutes gone, but Vincent Kompany's header came back off the crossbar and Yaya Toure's goalbound follow-up was hacked away by Mignolet.
City boss Roberto Mancini and Zabaleta were then left appealing in vain for a free-kick for Gardner's challenge on the full-back, as Johnson picked up possession and cut inside before firing home.
Sessegnon might have doubled his side's advantage within two minutes, but pulled his effort across the face of goal with City in disarray.
The visitors were almost breached once again on the hour when James McClean picked out Sessegnon in front of goal, but the Benin international could not take the ball in his stride.
Kompany, who had already been booked, was fortunate to escape a second yellow card for a block on McClean as City struggled to contain a Black Cats side growing in confidence by the minute.
Belgium international Mignolet excelled himself once again two minutes later to deny Aguero one on one, but it was Hart in the firing line with 10 minutes remaining when Sessegnon was played in by substitute Fraizer Campbell with the keeper coming out on top.
City battered away at their hosts as time ran down, but with Sunderland defending deep and with tenacity, they simply could not find a way through and McClean almost served up the perfect finish with an 88th-minute shot which flew just wide.
QPR VS WEST BROM
West Brom kept pace with the top four on Boxing Day thanks a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers, who slumped back to the foot of the table.
Chris Brunt's fine first-half strike put the Baggies in front before a contentious second, which saw Robert Green fumble the ball into his own net, doubled their lead.
Djibril Cisse pulled one back for the hosts, who threw everything forward in the closing stages, but there was to be no festive cheer for the locals who made it to Loftus Road for a fixture which started late due to travel disruption in the capital.
QPR looked the more likely of the two sides to score early on, but it was the Baggies fans who were celebrating just before the half hour when Brunt put the visitors ahead.
The midfielder picked the ball up from Marc-Antoine Fortune and, after allowing it to drift across his body, unleashed a 25-yard drive that sailed into the bottom right-hand corner of Green's goal.
James Morrison almost made it 2-0 seconds later with a clever volley, but the home side regained their composure and went close through Stephane Mbia and Adel Taarabt.
After the break the story remained the same. Romelu Lukaku found space in the box, but could only prod weakly at Green and Anton Ferdinand almost turned Billy Jones' cross in to his own net.
Mbia summed up the lack of quality in front of goal for QPR when he wriggled free from his marker to meet Taarabt's corner, but his header flew straight back at the Moroccan, rather than at goal.
The home fans were then outraged as West Brom doubled their lead in controversial circumstances on 49 minutes.
Traore attempted to clear Brunt's corner but instead his header looped back towards his own goal. Green attempted to collect the ball but he was impeded by Fortune, who leaned in to the stopper, causing him to drop the ball into his own net.
The away fans ironically chanted Green's name as the Rangers players demanded Fortune be penalised for the foul, but referee Chris Foy shook his head and the goal stood.
Albion took their foot off the accelerator after that and paid the price in the 69th minute when Cisse latched on to Mbia's slide-rule pass and lifted the ball over the advancing Ben Foster.
QPR threw everything at the away goal looking for an equaliser, but they struggled to test Foster.
ASTON VILLA VS TOTTENHAM
Gareth Bale scored a second-half hat-trick as Tottenham Hotspur handed hosts Aston Villa a second consecutive Premier League thrashing in a 4-0 defeat at Villa Park.
Smarting from their 8-0 humiliation by Chelsea, the onus was on Villa to put in some sort of defensive display, which they managed in the first half.But they paid a heavy price for their adventure in the second period as Jermain Defoe opened the scoring before Bale smashed his second career hat-trick, all his goals coming after the hour mark.
At least Villa know they are in exalted company – Bale’s only other treble came against Inter Milan, in the Champions League.
Spurs had managed a Barcelona-esque 65 per cent possession in a goalless first half that saw Villa muster up just one corner to the visitors’ 15.
There were chances for Bale, who had two efforts well saved by Brad Guzan, the American also doing well to deny Defoe after his terrifyingly young defence parted for the England striker.
Said defence, deprived of experienced but injured leaders such as Ron Vlaar and Richard Dunne, were operating as a back five until an injury to Nathan Baker.
They were largely on the back foot as the aforementioned Baker made a couple of important blocks, while for their trouble Villa could only manage one half-chance as Brett Holman bounced a difficult finish well over after Matt Lowton’s cross skimmed the head of Christian Benteke.
Villa’s enforced switch came just before half-time, Stephen Ireland’s entry seeing Villa move to a flat back four, with Marc Albrighton introduced for the second half to provide more pace out wide.
It had an impact as the hosts started with a great deal more intent, putting Spurs on the back foot as Ireland and Albrighton dovetailed superbly, Benteke denied by two marginal offsides.
But as Villa were enjoying their best spell by far, Spurs sucker-punched them on the counter-attack as Kyle Naughton threaded Defoe through, the England striker slotting a cool finish through Guzan’s legs to net a 10th Premier League goal this season on his 400th Premier League appearance.
As if to ensure the irony was not lost on anyone, the visitors added a quickfire second from the break that followed Villa’s best chance. Benteke had been guilty of a terrible piece of play when, having gone clean through down the right, he somehow failed to pick out the unmarked Ireland, his dreadful cut-back allowing Spurs to race upfield.
Elliott Bennett gave them a helping hand with a rotten clearance, Bale scuttling away to round Guzan and slid the finish home.
That pretty much ended the match as a contest, with Bale adding his second and Spurs’ third with a crisp low finish after good work by Aaron Lennon, although Villa’s defending was atrocious.
There was more to come as, with seven minutes of normal time remaining, Bale thrashed his third goal into the roof of the net after a lovely cut-back by substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson.
That completed a dirty dozen of festive goals conceded by Villa, with Paul Lambert in danger of losing his job if he fails to restore the ludicrously marginalised Darren Bent, while rebuilding a rookie defence - provided Randy Lerner has not dispensed with him by the January window.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Gareth Bale (Tottenham): A hat-trick for the Welshman, the second of his career, although the opposition was frankly non-existent.
PLAYER RATINGS
ASTON VILLA: Guzan 6, Lowton 5, Baker 7, Clark 5, Bennett 5, Holman 5, Westwood 5, Herd 5, El Ahmadi 5, Delph 5, Benteke 5; Subs: Ireland 7, Albrighton 7
TOTTENHAM: Lloris 7, Walker 7, Gallas 6, Vertonghen 7, Naughton 7, Sandro 7, Dembele 6, Lennon 8, Bale 10, Adebayor 7, Defoe 8; Subs: Townsend 6, Parker 6, Sigurdsson 7
STOKE VS LIVERPOOL
Superb performances from Jonathan Walters and Kenwyne Jones inspired Stoke City to a 3-1 comeback win at home to Liverpool.
After Luis Suarez won a first-minute penalty that Steven Gerrard converted, a Walters brace and a rare goal for Jones extended the Potters’ unbeaten league run to nine matches, with Jones headers creating both goals for Everton fan Walters.The result puts Stoke above Liverpool into eighth, with the Reds three points behind.
Liverpool had not won a Premier League penalty all season, much to Brendan Rodgers’s chagrin, but they had to wait all of 30 seconds to get one at the Britannia as Ryan Shawcross hauled down Suarez.
Gerrard made no mistake from the spot, sending Asmir Begovic the wrong way and the ball into the bottom left, with the home fans’ anti-Suarez chants ludicrous given the obvious nature of the foul.
But Liverpool’s lead was cancelled out in two minutes after Martin Skrtel, whose brilliant long ball sent Suarez through for the penalty, slipped at an inopportune moment to allow Walters to meet Jones’s flick-on to finish past Pepe Reina.
The much-maligned Jones, preferred to Peter Crouch after the former Liverpool striker’s loss of form, turned from provider to scorer when he headed in a rare goal from a Glenn Whelan corner, although the marking of Gerrard and goal-line efforts of Glen Johnson left something to be desired.
Within 10 minutes Stoke had turned things round, but Liverpool responded with an intense spell of pressure for the remainder of the half.
But the Reds failed to level before the break, thanks in part to some poor finishing from Suarez, while Gerrard put a couple of efforts wide.
Indeed, Stoke could have extended their lead but for an excellent stop by Reina, who smothered Matthew Etherington’s finish after he had been found unmarked in the box.
Rodgers made the expected half-time change by introducing Raheem Sterling for Suso, and the England winger almost had an immediate impact as his clever run down the left should have seen Suarez level – but the Uruguayan put wide with just Begovic to beat.
And Stoke made them pay with Jones once more combining with Walters, this time the Trinidad and Tobago striker flicking the ball across goal for the Ireland forward to control on the chest before planting a sweet finish past Reina.
A two-goal cushion is some advantage at the Britannia but the hosts wanted more as they sought to get Jones on the ball as often as possible, the home fans ironically singing rugby songs in tribute to their physical style.
Despite an absence of obvious chances for an extended spell, the match was still enthralling enough as both sides traded attacks for fun.
Liverpool were let down by their final ball, but their defenders were relatively alert as Walters and Jones continued to dovetail impressively.
Stoke have a strong squad these days and Tony Pulis replaced Jones with Crouch, the former England striker having stated the season well but tailed off in recent weeks.
There were some half-chances for the visitors late on, but Suarez wasted a free-kick before playing a fantastic ball across the face of goal that none of his team-mates showed for.
That was the end of their hopes of a comeback as Stoke closed out a great win to extend their fantastic run, which has also seen them unbeaten in 16 home matches.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jon Walters (Stoke): The Everton fan's brace included a majestic touch and finish that will be lost on the world simply because it was Stoke.
PLAYER RATINGS
STOKE: Begovic 7, Cameron 7, Shawcross 6, Huth 7, Wilkinson 7; Kightly 6, Nzonzi 7, Whelan 7, Etherington 7; Walters 8, Jones 8; Subs: Whitehead 7, Crouch 6, Shotton 6
LIVERPOOL: Reina 6, Johnson 6, Enrique 6, Skrtel 5, Agger 6, Lucas 6, Gerrard 6, Shelvey 5, Suso 6, Downing 6, Suarez 6. Subs: Henderson N/A, Cole N/A, Sterling 7
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