Capital One Cup - Semi-Final First Leg
Result: Stoke City 0-1 Liverpool
Date: 05 January 2016
Venue: Britannia Stadium
Jordon Ibe's first-half strike was enough to earn Liverpool a 1-0 win over Stoke City in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final tie at the Britannia Stadium.
Jack Butland was called into action in the sixth minute, as the Stoke shot-stopper pulled off a fine stop to keep out Adam Lallana's effort from 20-yards out.
Jurgen Klopp's side were dealt a blow after 18 minutes when play-maker, Philippe Coutinho, picked up a hamstring injury and was forced to be replaced.
It went from bad to worst regarding injuries for Liverpool, as defender Dejan Lovren picked up a knock, which forced him off.
However, it was Klopp's men who broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, as Joe Allen's scuffed pass found Jordon Ibe, who fired a low effort into the bottom corner.
The score remained 1-0 in favour Liverpool at the halftime break, as Stoke failed to trouble Simon Mignolet throughout the opening 45 minutes.
The home side piled on the pressure in the opening 10 minutes of the second half but it was Liverpool who went close in the 62nd minute, as Roberto Firmino rifled a low effort just wide of the mark.
Mignolet came to Liverpool's rescue in the 63rd minute, as the Belgian produced a fine finger-tip save to keep out Joselu's deflected effort from the edge of the area.
Stoke pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages and even introduced for Reds striker, Peter Crouch, to put pressure on the visitor's re-shuffled defence.
However, Klopp's charges managed to soak up the pressure until the final whistle, as they secure a valuble first leg win on the road.
The second leg will take place in three weeks' time at Anfield.
