A six-match unbeaten run came to end as they were outfought,
outplayed and outmanoeuvred by Tony Pulis' side.
Ricardo Fuller opened the scoring just after half-time and
Kenwyne Jones completed a comprehensive victory in the final minute
before Lucas Leiva was sent off for a second bookable offence.
The Potters were more than worth their win against a team who
appear to have lost their way as quickly as they found it.
They have won away from home only once this season and only
three times since last November.
Their first 45 minutes appeared to be a direct continuation of
the second half at Wigan, where they had found themselves under
almost constant pressure and were lucky to come away with a
draw.
Only the returning Sotirios Kyrgiakos had not played in the
previous two matches so there may have been an element of fatigue,
especially as Stoke played a day earlier on Tuesday.
But no team in the Premier League, let alone a club like
Liverpool, can expect to use that as an excuse for an abject and
disjointed first-half display.
Roy Hodgson's side appeared unprepared and unable to deal with
their hosts' brash, energetic approach which allowed them to
dominate the game from first to last.
Stoke were appealing unsuccessfully for a penalty in only the
second minute when Maxi Rodriguez leant heavily on Ricardo Fuller
as they challenged for Rory Delap's long throw.
It was a sign of things to come as the visitors found themselves
being forced back, looking worrying susceptible to Delap's
trademark set-piece.
Midfielder Dean Whitehead benefited from weak headed clearances
to fire in a low shot which Jose Reina turned around a post and
then drill a similar 30-yard effort just past the angle of upright
and crossbar.
Jones and former Reds winger Jermaine Pennant also had chances
before Steven Gerrard registered Liverpool's first shot in the 29th
minute, forcing Asmir Begovic to tip the low effort behind,
although the goalkeeper dealt more comfortably with Raul Meireles
strike from the resulting corner.
It was a brief retort which was soon forgotten when Jones
rounded Paul Konchesky to cross low into the six-yard box, forcing
Jamie Carragher to dive in front of Matthew Etherington to prevent
the opening goal.
Less than two minutes into the second half Fernando Torres, who
had been anonymous previously, was booked for tackling Pennant from
behind.
But the real threat was still coming from Delap and Liverpool's
inability to cope with his party trick finally cost them in the
56th minute.
A scramble saw the ball break to Etherington at the far post and
his cross-shot bounced back off Konchesky to Fuller, whose had his
first effort blocked but stabbed home the second from close
range.
Despite the stereotype, it was Stoke's first goal from a Delap
party-piece in 23 league matches.
Jones almost made it two when Martin Skrtel mistimed his jump
but his left-footed effort beat both Reina and the far post.
Liverpool, as they did in the first half, had two chances in
quick succession with Rodriguez shooting straight at Begovic from
Dirk Kuyt's cut-back and Skrtel firing wide from Kyrgiakos'
knockdown of Gerrard's free-kick.
David Ngog and Ryan Babel replaced Meireles and Rodriguez but
with Liverpool still unable to gain decent possession of the ball
it made little difference they effectively had four strikers on the
pitch.
Their embarrassment was completed in the 90th minute when
Gerrard gave the ball away and Jones was able to skip past Skrtel
to fire home.
The dismissal of Lucas just compounded matters.
In terms of territory and control Liverpool have now lost the
last five halves they have played in.
The 45 minutes prior to that had been the electrifying
first-half display against Chelsea but team now appear to be on a
downward spiral again.
It is a descent Hodgson has to arrest quickly. He left the
Britannia Stadium with chants of "Dalglish'' - a reference to
former player and manager Kenny - ringing in his ears.