Fuller put Stoke on their way to victory with the opening goal
Stoke produced a performance of grit and determination to achieve a first league win over Liverpool for 26 years.
Ricardo Fuller poked home after his initial shot had been blocked in a pinball passage of play in the area.
Earlier, he had been denied what appeared to be a clear penalty when he was pushed over by Maxi Rodriguez.
Stoke wrapped up the win over a poor Liverpool when Kenwyne Jones slotted in coolly, before Lucas was sent off late on to add to the visitors' misery.
The result launched Stoke up the Premier League table, out of the relegation zone and into into 10th place - leapfrogging the Merseysiders in the process.
Ahead of the game Stoke boss Tony Pulis insisted he had said all he wanted to say about referees, having claimed earlier in the week that decisions were repeatedly going against his side.
But he might find it hard to completely move on after the Potters appeared to be denied at least one penalty in the first half - the clearest being when Maxi knocked over Fuller. There were also incidents involving Martin Skrtel, who twice had his arms wrapped around Robert Huth.
First goal was crucial - Hodgson
However, Pulis will be delighted that it did not cost Stoke this time as they stuck to their task and deservedly beat a disjointed Liverpool side, whose six-match unbeaten run comes to an end.
The home side were the better team, pressing high up the pitch and playing at a tempo that Liverpool found difficult to deal with.
The tried-and-tested approach of utilising long throws from Rory Delap caused chaos in the visitors' box. One throw was eventually cleared to Dean Whitehead, whose fierce drive brought a fine stop from goalkeeper Pepe Reina. From the resultant corner Jones directed a header wide.
Whitehead smashed a rising drive just over the bar shortly after before another Delap throw was headed on by Huth and almost hooked in by Pennant.
After 30 minutes of hustle, bustle and Stoke on top, Liverpool finally stirred.
Having previously been unable to accurately find any intended target from five yards, the Reds then managed two decent shots from distance in quick succession.
Steven Gerrard's effort from 30 yards was pushed around the post by keeper Asmir Begovic, who then dealt well with a low shot from Raul Meireles.
After half an hour Stoke's pace dropped, and that suited Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson's team.
However, Jones would have been clean through but for a poor touch but the striker did recover enough to deliver a cross that a sliding Matthew Etherington almost managed to get on the end of.
Liverpool's response was a Gerrard shot from 20 yards that went well wide.
In a match short on quality and controlled football, it was perhaps not surprising that when the opening goal came it was borne of a passage of play that saw the ball bounce around like a pinball.
The Reds failed to clear the ball out of their area after numerous attempts and Fuller eventually stabbed home after his initial toe-poke came back to him.
Stoke might have increased their advantage, but Delap's shot took a deflection and flew into the side netting and when Jones got the better of Skrtel, he fizzed a left-foot shot wide of the far post.
Having been on the back foot, Liverpool suddenly sprung forward and when Kuyt pulled the ball back to Maxi, the Argentine's low shot almost squeezed under Begovic who made the save by sitting on the ball.
It was rare moment of incisiveness from the visitors, whose afternoon was better summed by Fernando Torres' attempted pass that was thumped high into touch.
Pulis delighted with 'smashing' win
The striker had come into the match looking to score for the third consecutive match but his form deserted him.
As Hodgson's men misfired, Stoke took full advantage and sealed a back-to-back victory - following the midweek defeat of Birmingham that ended a run of five straight league defeats - when Jermaine Pennant found Jones and the striker slotted home.
Lucas was then sent off after picking up his second booking when he kicked out at Etherington.
90:00+4:34 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+2:44 Substitution Matthew Etherington leaves the field to be replaced by Marc Wilson.
90:00+1:40 Direct free kick taken by Asmir Begovic.
90:00+1:40 Sent off Leiva Lucas shown a red card for second bookable offence.
90:00+1:32 Leiva Lucas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matthew Etherington.
90:00+0:01 Jermaine Pennant provided the assist for the goal.
90:00+0:01 GOAL - Kenwyne Jones:Stoke 2 - 0 Liverpool A goal is scored by Kenwyne Jones from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Stoke 2-0 Liverpool.
88:57 Jonathan Walters produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.
Correction - 86:20 Paul Konchesky takes the free kick.
Correction - 86:20 Substitution Ricardo Fuller leaves the field to be replaced by Jonathan Walters.
Correction - 86:20 David Ngog fouled by Ryan Shawcross, the ref awards a free kick.
86:20 Strike comes in from Paul Konchesky from the free kick.
86:20 Substitution Jonathan Walters replaces Ricardo Fuller.
86:20 Ryan Shawcross gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Ngog.
82:09 Steven Gerrard takes the free kick.
82:09 Booking Ricardo Fuller is cautioned.
81:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ricardo Fuller on Steven Gerrard.
81:38 Steven Gerrard has a drilled shot. Kenwyne Jones gets a block in.
78:04 Dean Whitehead takes the direct free kick. Matthew Etherington takes a shot.
78:04 Booking Martin Skrtel receives a caution.
77:59 Martin Skrtel concedes a free kick for a foul on Kenwyne Jones.
76:49 Unfair challenge on Jermaine Pennant by Leiva Lucas results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Whitehead.
74:55 Ryan Babel produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.
72:12 Substitution (Liverpool) makes a substitution, with Ryan Babel coming on for Rodriguez Maxi.
68:35 Corner taken right-footed by Steven Gerrard from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Kenwyne Jones.
66:42 Paul Konchesky gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jermaine Pennant. Free kick crossed by Matthew Etherington,
save made by Jose Reina.
65:23 Substitution David Ngog joins the action as a substitute, replacing Raul Meireles.
64:01 Steven Gerrard fouled by Ricardo Fuller, the ref awards a free kick. The ball is swung over by Steven Gerrard, Shot by Martin
Skrtel from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
63:44 Foul by Jermaine Pennant on Rodriguez Maxi, free kick awarded. Leiva Lucas takes the direct free kick.
63:03 Rodriguez Maxi takes a shot. Save by Asmir Begovic.
62:29 Rodriguez Maxi fouled by Andy Wilkinson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Konchesky.
61:54 Kenwyne Jones has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.
60:54 Shot from 20 yards from Rory Delap. Blocked by Jamie Carragher. Jermaine Pennant takes the inswinging corner, clearance made
by Paul Konchesky.
57:55 Fernando Torres fouled by Robert Huth, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Steven Gerrard from left
57:01 Danny Collins restarts play with the free kick.
57:01 Booking Leiva Lucas goes into the referee's book.
56:41 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ricardo Fuller by Leiva Lucas.
56:23 Steven Gerrard takes a shot. Blocked by Danny Collins.
55:12 GOAL - Ricardo Fuller:Stoke 1 - 0 Liverpool Ricardo Fuller grabs a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Stoke 1-0 Liverpool.
53:22 Booking Danny Collins is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
51:26 Robert Huth concedes a free kick for a foul on Jose Reina. Free kick taken by Jose Reina.
48:40 Fernando Torres fouled by Andy Wilkinson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Steven Gerrard.
46:55 Inswinging corner taken by Jermaine Pennant.
46:25 Matthew Etherington restarts play with the free kick.
46:25 Booking Fernando Torres goes into the book.
46:19 Fernando Torres challenges Jermaine Pennant unfairly and gives away a free kick.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
45:00+3:10 The first half comes to an end.
45:00+2:33 Andy Wilkinson takes a shot. Blocked by Martin Skrtel.
41:44 Steven Gerrard has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.
39:59 Kenwyne Jones takes a shot. Save made by Jose Reina.
32:44 Matthew Etherington takes a shot. Blocked by Jamie Carragher. Corner taken by Jermaine Pennant from the left by-line, Robert
Huth gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jose Reina. Jose Reina takes the direct free kick.
29:32 Dean Whitehead gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dirk Kuyt. Direct free kick taken by Leiva Lucas.
28:49 Raul Meireles takes a shot. Blocked by Danny Collins. Raul Meireles produces a drilled left-footed shot from 25 yards. Save
by Asmir Begovic.
28:05 Steven Gerrard has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Save by Asmir Begovic. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by
24:58 Leiva Lucas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matthew Etherington. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Shawcross.
22:20 The assistant referee signals for offside against Ryan Shawcross. Jose Reina takes the indirect free kick.
21:41 Rory Delap fouled by Dirk Kuyt, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Whitehead.
19:53 Martin Skrtel fouled by Robert Huth, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jose Reina.
19:13 Martin Skrtel concedes a free kick for a foul on Ricardo Fuller. Dean Whitehead takes the direct free kick.
18:42 Robert Huth takes a shot. Blocked by Kenwyne Jones.
15:18 Corner from right by-line taken by Steven Gerrard.
12:28 Shot from just outside the penalty area by Dean Whitehead misses to the left of the target.
11:59 Rodriguez Maxi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jermaine Pennant. Ryan Shawcross restarts play with the free
9:54 Dean Whitehead has an effort at goal. Save made by Jose Reina. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jermaine Pennant,
Kenwyne Jones has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
8:09 Rodriguez Maxi fouled by Jermaine Pennant, the ref awards a free kick. Leiva Lucas takes the direct free kick.
7:07 Effort from just outside the area by Ricardo Fuller goes over the target.
6:15 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ricardo Fuller on Leiva Lucas. Jamie Carragher takes the direct free kick.
5:38 Ricardo Fuller gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rodriguez Maxi. Direct free kick taken by Jose Reina.
0:00 The referee gets the game started.
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