Super sub Divock Origi stole the show as Liverpool ran out 4-1 winners over Stoke City.

In an action-packed first half, Alberto Moreno opened the scoring with a stunning long-range strike before Bojan Krkic headed home to level for the visitors just 14 minutes later.

But Liverpool hit back through as Daniel Sturridge headed home to retake the lead before Origi extended the advantage further after the interval with two well-taken goals.

Here were the main talking points from a high-scoring afternoon at Anfield…

Strikers make the case for two’s company

 

Confronted with the dilemma of which Liverpool striker to pick ahead of last Thursday’s encounter with Borussia Dortmund, Jurgen Klopp chose Divock Origi ahead of Daniel Sturridge.

But that decision has become all the more agonising ahead of the return leg at Anfield in four days’ time after the pair both offered compelling cases to lead the line in the Europa League clash.

Sturridge staked a claim first, heading home his fourth goal against Stoke City in seven outings after he converted Sheyi Ojo’s cross before Origi’s second-half introduction stepped up the contest.

A headed finish from a well-worked corner between Sturridge and James Milner kicked off proceedings before a cross-cum-shot found its way past Jakob Haugaard to complete proceedings.

Klopp was afforded a swift rebuttal from Sturridge, who was demoted at Signal Iduna Park on the grounds of a lack of match fitness, but Origi reaffirmed his own claim that his pace and trickery can be just as damaging to Dortmund again next week.

Not known for taking the conventional route, the Liverpool manager would do well to continue the theme by deploying both strikers in the quarter-final tie.

Under-strength Reds are far from below-par

 

When news broke that Dortmund had rested a host of key players against Schalke, ahead of Thursday’s trip to Anfield, plenty expected Liverpool to follow suit.

Clearly Klopp has one eye on Thursday’s vital quarter-final too. He made seven changes from the first leg as the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Leiva and Dejan Lovren were all demoted to the substitutes’ bench.

In their place, Klopp handed Premier League starts to Kevin Stewart and Ojo. The latter left his mark with a mesmerishing dribble and cross to feed Sturridge for Liverpool’s second while Stewart recovered from a sloppy start to offer a promising account.

Even with the wholesale changes made, this was far from a below-par Liverpool side, dampening any suggestions that under-strength will always equal underwhelming.

Anfield’s set piece woes continue

 

There was a time when Liverpool never scored from set pieces. It was an adage that followed them across two decades and into the new millennium. Nowadays it seems they can never stop conceding from them.

Less than a quarter of an hour after one Anfield defender had opened the scoring, another had pulled them level from a move that could have been plucked from the Melwood training pitches themselves.

Kolo Toure played on Bojan Krkic as he was allowed to glance home Xherdan Shaqiri’s free kick unchallenged, with the Liverpool defence all at sea. James Milner had forewarned his former Manchester City team mate but it clearly fell on deaf ears.

Far too often, the Reds have been caught out from set play. Klopp will have his work cut out remedying what has become an age-old issue in recent times.

Allen stakes a claim amid midfield clear-out

 

An overhaul of Liverpool’s midfield department will be chief among Klopp’s to-do tasks this summer – but Joe Allen is unlikely to be among those facing the cull.

The Wales international continues to defy suggestions that his affiliation with Brendan Rodgers will be his undoing. Since Klopp took the reins from the former Kop boss last October, he has continued to excel with a series of driven performances.

Stoke are clearly gluttons for punishment as Allen offered a third commanding showing against Mark Hughes’ side in four months. A standing ovation from across Anfield as he made way for Lucas late on highlighted just how far the 26-year-old’s stock has risen in recent months.

No one is guaranteed safety this summer but Allen has given his manager further food for thought.