Liverpool and Stoke City have been unable to score at Anfield in the first half.

It was a slow start at Anfield as neither side could control the game but Marc Wilson got clear for Stoke after seven minutes, however he missed the target with his effort.

Then straight up the other end a Nuri Sahin effort was well blocked by the Stoke defence, who were called into action again on 18 minutes, this time from Luis Suarez.

Steven Gerrard had the first meaningful shot on target, but his effort was not good enough to beat Asmir Begovic on 27 minutes.

Liverpool started to up the pressure but first Daniel Agger and then Gerrard shot wide as the game neared half-time.

Neither side were able to break the deadlock and it was 0-0 at the break.