Liverpool have climbed into the Champions League places with a thrilling 5-3 victory against Stoke City in the Premier League.

The visitors got off to the best possible start when Aly Cissokho's shot took a deflection off Ryan Shawcross before finding the net.

The defender's effort from 25 yards looked to be going off target, but the deflection took it past Jack Butland.

Stoke fought back strongly after the goal and showed plenty of attacking intent. However, they lacked the killer touch in the final third.

With 20 minutes played, a quick counter-attack from the visitors ended with Philippe Coutinho hitting the ball over the bar from the edge of the box.

However, the Reds were 2-0 ahead with 30 minutes gone. Martin Skrtel lifted a long ball upfield, which Stoke failed to clear. Marc Wilson, Shawcross and Butland all missed the ball, and Luis Suarez tapped into an empty net.

The hosts managed to pull a goal back five minutes before the break when Peter Crouch glanced a header past Simon Mignolet.

It was 2-2 just moments later. Charlie Adam picked up the ball on the edge of the box and fired a fierce shot past Mignolet.

Stoke started the second half in positive fashion, but they were soon behind again. Raheem Sterling made a run in the box and went down under a challenge from Wilson. Anthony Taylor awarded the penalty and Steven Gerrard sent Butland the wrong way.

Steven Nzonzi had a shot blocked, before the Reds extended their lead. Daniel Sturridge led a counter-attack and played in Suarez, who curled the ball around Butland.

Mignolet kept out Jonathan Walters's header, but the goalkeeper was unable to do anything about the striker's next effort, which gave Stoke a glimmer of hope.

However, Sturridge made sure of the win when he fired in at the second attempt after Butland had done well to save his initial effort.

There was still time for Crouch to hit the post with a header, but Stoke were unable to find another goal.