PA PhotosLiverpool were left frustrated by a typically robust Stoke side at Anfield on Sunday

Anfield saw all sides of Luis Suarez against Stoke. The sublime. The ridiculous. And the damn right embarrassing. Last week the Uruguayan was the victim of reputation, roll on seven days and he rubberstamped exactly why such a reputation existed in the first place.

Suarez took a battering against Tony Pulis's men, none more so than a boot full of studs to his chest from German Robert Huth. But his sprawl to the floor halfway through the second half is the overriding memory of this highly forgettable contest. There was no need for his theatrics and unfortunately it will be the talking point from the outside onlookers.

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It could have been so different for him too. He had once again been the sparkle in the Liverpool performance offering the supporters, surprisingly quiet around the stands of Anfield, an exhibition of dribbling and agility. He was having fun and acting like a magician around the brutal Stoke defence, only to fluff his lines in front of goal. The plaudits were written and waiting.

But then, he took a slight nudge to the leg in the area. A change in direction followed before he unleashed a disastrous attempt to replicate a 3m springboard dive. Full length, into the tuck position but lacking the rotation. 2.5 from the judges.

However much the owners want to dress up the player with expensive PR, they cannot handle his repetitive unsporting antics. A line needs to be drawn by Brendan Rodgers to his star player and discipline needs to be laid down. Lessons need to be learnt for any credibility from the outside to begin to be earned.

Rodgers himself had gambled by maintaining the same young line-up which had easily disposed of Norwich a week ago. Keeping the same team that beat a side 5-2 would not normally be seen as a risk, but against the stealth of Stoke, throwing teenagers, Suso, Raheem Sterling and Andre Wisdom into the lion's den was always going to prove testing.

And it didn't take long for Tony Pulis's side to impose themselves.

After just four minutes, Robert Huth sent Suarez clattering to the floor before stamping backwards onto the striker's chest. It wasn't an incident of accident. Huth's sole aim was to tell the Uruguayan he was in for a tough afternoon. And if that wasn't enough of a message to the striker, a sharp thud to the calves minutes later certainly was.

Liverpool started slowly. The composed defending Rodgers is trying to implement once again reared its ugly side. Pepe Reina sought out Nuri Sahin in midfield but the Turkish international skewed a pass straight to Charlie Adam, playing his first match against Liverpool since leaving in the summer. Typically, though, the Scot failed to find the red nets and instead forced a shot straight into the midriff of the onrushing Reina.

This panicky passing among the backline again nearly gifted Stoke an opener on 20 minutes when Reina handed the ball to Steven Nzonzi. But the Spaniard reacted well to make up for his own mistake and tipped the former Blackburn midfielder's chip over the bar.

Suso and Sterling seemed shy in possession early on but once the intricate one touch passing returned, space started to appear in the opposition half. Steven Gerrard was the first to launch a swerving long-range shot which Asmir Begovic parried round out for a corner.

At times watching Stoke felt like an on demand service of the Rugby League Grand Final from the day previous. Huth continued to impose his burly figure and finally received a yellow card from Lee Mason 15 minutes before half time for a third foul on Suarez. To his credit, Mason handled the match well and his esteem in the game seems to be growing with each fixture he officiates.

Gerrard assumed the role of quarterback for much of the game, and into the second period he unleashed a barrage of searching through balls. Not every pass hit its target but he played the accomplished Glen Johnson on goal with a perfectly whipped pass to create the team's best chance so far. Johnson escaped his marker but blazed his shot high into The Kop.

Liverpool's struggles with the woodwork were well documented last season. And it seems the problem has not ceased. They clipped the post three times in all in 45 minutes. First Sterling found space to drill the ball low, then Suarez wriggled through the Stoke defence for the umpteenth time to power an acute angled shot again onto the near post and finally Martin Skrtel failed to grab a winner with a late flick.

It was pleasing to see Joe Cole back in a red shirt and returning to the fold. He showed ambition in his cameo and willingness for the ball. It's a good job it is the international break as he will have time to find the ball he plummeted into space. Cole certainly seems to be back in favour, unlike his fellow England international Stewart Downing who was absent from the squad all together and seems closer to an exit door than ever before.

Keeping their first clean sheet of the season will be the main positive for Rodgers. Daniel Agger showed exactly why his manager sought his signature in contract talks during this week with a confident display marauding forward from the back. Alongside Martin Skrtel the pair allowed Peter Crouch barely any scraps to feed off. The aerial presence of the target man lacked potency and his link-up play at times seemed non-existent. The pair, aided excellently by Wisdom, Glen Johnson and Joe Allen just in front rarely looked threatened and worked hard to protect the sheet from any dirt.

Rodgers will be worried about his side's lack of chances, and clinical streak. His decision not to use Fabio Borini raised an eyebrow or two as well but his team are not the first to have struggled against Stoke this season, and they won't be the last either. The worrying sight, or sound, was the atmosphere at Anfield though. Other than The Kop, and the away end, a deathly silence resided around the stands. The fortress Rodgers aimed to instil has yet to come to fruition, and at this rate, it could be a while till it does.

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