STOKE CITY
v
LIVERPOOL
The Britannia Stadium
13.11.2010, 22.55 IST – Live on ESPN
Although Tony Pulis has managed to turn a few heads around with his recent take on how the referring system needs to be revamped, his team is still seeking that impetus to get on the winning track. Their midweek win against lowly placed neighbours Birmingham City has lifted them above the relegation zone and Pulis will now be hoping that his team can breathe that same air of confidence when Liverpool visit The Britannia stadium. With just 13 points from 12 games, a win against Liverpool will put Stoke in the right frame of mind while facing the big teams.
Liverpool have been showing some kind of form off-late and they are unbeaten in their last four Premier League games. Roy Hodgson will be looking forward to maintain the good run and with Fernando Torres back on the scoring sheet, facing Liverpool can prove to be a daunting task.
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Team News and Tactical Brief
Liverpool
Injuries to first team players Daniel Agger, Glen Johnson, Sotiros Kyriagkos, Joe Cole, Fabio Aurelio and Ryan Babel leave Liverpool with a depleted side. Although Glen Johnson, Joe Cole and Kyriagkos might have an outside chance of making it to the team roster, Roy will certainly not like to rush them into action and risk further injury. Fielding young lads like Jonjo Shelvey, Jay Spearing and the likes haven’t really paid off for the Reds’ boss as was evident in the Wigan game. Hence Roy will be looking at his first team players to deliver the 3 points that will lift Liverpool further up the league standing.
Liverpool seem to be drawing a different game plan away from home. The game against Wigan saw them defend deep when Roy missed the services of few key defenders. If faced with similar situation at the Britannia stadium, Liverpool will most probably be relying on quick counter attacks. This might work for Roy ,considering Torres is regaining his form and Gerrard is doing a great job in supporting him in the absence of a genuine supporting striker. Also one more point to be noted here is that so far, apart from David Ngog’s strike against Arsenal in the first game, the rest of the goals scored by Liverpool in the Premier League so far have either been created or scored by either Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres.
Raul Meireles’ absence due to sickness will probably see Christian Poulsen take ton he field. Poulsen had a hostile treatment since his arrival from Juventus and would be desperately looking for an opportunity to prove that he has it in him to be a Liverpool hero. Lucas, on the other hand, will be looking to continue his good form from the Chelsea game. All the praise that has been showered on him should motivate him towards another good performance .
Probable Starting Lineup: Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Martin Skrtel, Paul Konchesky, Dirk Kuyt, Christian Poulsen, Lucas Leiva, Maxi Rodriguez, Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres.
Stoke City
The physical nature that Stoke City bring to the game, always makes a trip to the Britannia a difficult one. The game against Birmingham saw them run out winners thanks to a late header by Dean Whitehead . Tony Pulis has decided to rest in-form Ricardo Fuller, as he believes that the striker does not have the flair and stamina to take more than 2 games a week. As a result, Turkish international Sanli Tuncay is expected to take his place in the starting line up.
Ryan Shawcross returns after a one game ban; thus strengthening the Stoke defence. He will replace Danny Higginbotham in the starting XI. Jermaine Pennant will be facing his former club for the first time since he moved out of Anfield.
Fernando Torres is the biggest threat for the Stoke defence and to prevent Torres, Stoke will be expected to play a highly physical game and push up their defensive line, because stopping Liverpool on the counter will be their main aim. Tony Pulis might also be looking to man-mark Torres in order to prevent the Spaniard from getting any space to make his marauding runs. Rory Delap’s throw-ins will once again prove to be a threat for the Liverpool defence and Stoke will be looking to make the most of his ability.
Possible Starting Lineup: Sorensen, Faye, Shawcross, Collins, Huth, Whitehead, Etherington, Pennant, Delap, Tuncay, Jones.
TheHardTackle’s PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR
Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Torres is slowly getting back into his old rhythm. With three goals in the last two games, including a brace against Chelsea, El Nino is expected to come out all guns blazing against the Stoke defense.
TheHardTackle’s PREDICTION
Stoke City 0 – 2 Liverpool