Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish refused to criticise Sebastian Coates after his error allowed Kenwyne Jones to score in last night's Carling Cup win over Stoke City.

Coates, making only his second start for the club, dallied too long on the ball in the left-back position and was robbed by Jon Walters, who crossed for Jones to head into the far corner.

"You're not going to come here and go away unscathed," said Dalglish.

"They normally get a goal from somewhere, that's why they've been successful.

"We had to match up to them and make sure that when we got the opportunity we passed and moved, and we did that in the first half.

"We're disappointed to lose any goal but the way they came back from it is more important to us. It's never the mistake, it's the way they reacted to it."