February 6, 1893
Liverpool make a good fight.
Stoke having an off-day, though their absence from the Cup-ties, were induced to visit Anfield on Saturday last. As might be expected, the attendance was not very encouraging, the greater attraction of an English Cup-tie being played in the neighbourhood enticing many of the home supporters away. Both teams were well represented, Andrew Hannah and Alf Underwood being the only absentees for their respective clubs.
Stoke opened smartly, and through sharp following-up Billy Naughton scored within five minutes of the start. In no way disheartened, the homesters kept pegging away, and before long were rewarded by seeing John Miller equalising. This, if anything, added increased vitality to the play of the home team, and it can be said that they assuredly controlled most of the remaining portion of the first half.
Stoke began in spirited fashion on resuming, and Sydney Ross was deservedly applauded for two brilliant saves. Still pressing, the visitors, who at this stage were smarter on the ball than Liverpool, obtained a second goal – a capital shot by Charles Baker.
Realising their position, the home team quickened their pace, and were quite as good as their opponents, except in the one old point, dilatoriness in front of goal. Jock Smith had terribly hard luck with a capital header, while it appeared as though Miller could not help scoring after breaking through the opposing backs, but William Rowley just managed to clear his shot. The game was a good one, and a draw would have been a truer representation of the qualities of the teams.
(Source: Athletic News: February 6, 1893)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 