Image source, Reuters

A decent night of entertainment and Liverpool get over the line in what is a very big result for them.

A clean sheet, the resilience Jurgen Klopp called for after defeat at West Ham. The second leg on 26 January will be a tall ask for Stoke now.

What a chance... Jonathan Walters races onto Peter Crouch's flick, he's in and can shoot left footed... wide. He dragged it badly. Mark Hughes puts his head in his hands. That was their best opening and it was the last kick... the whistle comes... Liverpool will take a lead to Anfield.

A wayward header from Marko Arnautovic dribbles wide. Liverpool have 50 seconds to hold on. Kolo Toure has been sent away from his defence, that's how badly he's moving.

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton winger on BBC Radio 5 live

"You can clearly see Kolo Toure is struggling."

Emre Can taps Kolo Toure on the head. He can see his team-mate is struggling.

Image source, Reuters

Kolo Toure is holding the back of his leg. Not another hamstring gone? That would be a hat-trick of them in one game.

Jurgen Klopp puts his hand to his head, he cannot believe this.

Three minutes of added time.

Around 90 seconds of normal time remain. This would be a real disappointment for Stoke. An away goal, unable to pounce on Liverpool's array of injuries.

Glen Johnson down the right, Jordon Ibe blocks him, Stoke throw. Marko Arnautovic... reverse ball... goal kick.

Kolo Toure is often given a sizeable amount of grief but he has offered a great deal tonight. His diving header clears a cross. Stoke go direct, in the ball comes again, palmed for a corner by Simon Mignolet.

Stoke's fans beyond the goal almost beg their team for something but a deflected shot sees an offside flag raised.

A goal kick is thumped up field by Simon Mignolet and Christian Benteke draws a foul. Philipp Wollscheid used him as a ladder.

That last moment of bluster from Xherdan Shaqiri is his work finished tonight. Peter Crouch is on against his former employers.

Xherdan Shaqiri races down the right flank. He leaves Jordon Ibe and Nathaniel Clyne in his wake... brilliant... across comes Kolo Toure and he slides to smother the ball like a corner.

Toure dived for that like a kid spotting money under the sofa.

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Liverpool have had some testing days against Stoke, but this current scoreline falls in line with past meetings. Remember, Liverpool have never lost to Stoke in cup competition.

They also better the league record since 2008...

Image source, Rex Features

Christian Benteke is getting ready to appear. As Roberto Firmino smashes a shot over from a long way out the big Belgian is on and it's Joe Allen to make way.

Is that an attacking move? My guess is no, Firmino will drop into midfield leaving Benteke up top.

Liverpool are that little bit deeper now. The pressing is not as apparent, when it does happen the leg stride of the man in black is tired. 

Joselu has his back to goal and tries to wriggle space.. he shoots... blocked, corner.

In it comes, Joselu again at the back post, he can't stretch and guide the ball back at goal.

My oh my. On the day Jack Butland was voted under-21 player of the year for the England team he nearly suffers in a moment of slapstick football.

His clearance pings off Roberto Firmino and like an arrow flies back at goal and into his grateful arms.