Liverpool back in second after 4-1 win

LIVERPOOL, England (AP):

Liverpool's prolific forward line delivered again in a 4-1 win over Stoke in the English Premier League yesterday, lifting the team back into second place and within six points of Chelsea.

Liverpool fought back from conceding in the 12th minute at Anfield, with Brazil forward Roberto Firmino among the scorers with his sixth league goal of the season three days after he was charged by police with drunk-driving in Liverpool city centre.

Playmaker Adam Lallana equalised for the Reds in the 34th and Firmino added the second just before half-time.

first league goal

Liverpool stretched the lead in the second half through an own-goal by Giannelli Imbula and Daniel Sturridge's first league goal of the season with his first touches after coming on as a substitute.

Liverpool reacted to wins for Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United on Monday with their own a day later, and it was the sixth time this season that Juergen Klopp's team has scored four goals or more in a league game. It is no surprise that the Reds are the top scorers in the division with 45 goals in 18 games.

Liverpool's players only got going once they fell behind to a rare Stoke goal at Anfield.

Erik Pieters provided the cross from the left and Jon Walters glanced in a header at the near post that Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet got a hand to but couldn't keep out. It was only Stoke's third league goal away to Liverpool in 40 years.