Dalglish doesn´t blame stingy Stoke

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish refused to criticise Stoke City’s defensive approach after his side could only manage a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

The Scot, whose team have now drawn seven games at home in the English Premier League, insisted his side must do more to break down defensive teams at Anfield.

“They came to get away with a point and they got a point. The responsibility is on us to be more imaginative to break them down and we didn’t manage to do it,” Dalglish told reporters.

“The couple of opportunities that we did have we didn’t take and in a game like that you’ve got to take your opportunities. ”

“We looked pretty solid at the back, I think they had one shot in the first half and not much more after that, but it’s our responsibility to break them down and we, on the day, just weren’t good enough.”

However, Dalglish questioned the consistent holding by Stoke City defenders in the penalty area and queried referee Howard Webb’s role in preventing it.

“Every game you go through there are a couple of penalty appeals,” he said.

“I think it’s difficult to comprehend sometimes when they speak to the people in the penalty area and I don’t know what they say, but obviously they’re talking about, ‘You need to stop holding’, but then it’s not punished.”

“That said – we probably get away with a couple as well.”

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis hailed what he felt was a great result for his team, who extended their unbeaten league run to four matches.

“We are pleased with the effort and commitment of the players,” Pulis said.

“They worked hard and that is four points off Liverpool and two clean sheets in the league and that is a great achievement.”

Pulis praised Webb for his performance, saying the referee remained calm despite the protests of a passionate home crowd.

“Several referees might have buckled but thankfully Howard is strong and experienced enough to have not,” he said.