Goal.com - Home

thumbnail Hello,
BT Group
 
Played
October 7, 2012 3:00 PM BST
Anfield — Liverpool
Referee:‬ L. Mason‎
Attendance:‬ 44531‎
 

Liverpool - Stoke Preview: Brendan Rodgers' side aim for their first back-to-back league win since December 2011

The resurgent Reds are hoping to continue their rise up the Premier League table while Tony Pulis' side are desperately seeking some away form

By Andy Sixsmith

More On :  Liverpool, Stoke City, Liverpool vs Stoke City
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

LIVERPOOL

Reina
Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Wisdom
Sahin, Allen
 Borini, Gerrard, Sterling
Suarez
STOKE CITY

Begovic
Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson
Adam, Whelan, N'Zonzi, Kightly
Walters, Crouch

Brendan Rodgers will reintroduce talismen Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez into the starting line-up after both were on the bench for Thursday's shock 3-2 defeat at home to Udinese.

Raheem Sterling should also start after only featuring as a substitute in the Europa League tie, but the match will come too soon for Jose Enrique (knee) and Martin Kelly (knee).  Lucas Leiva (thigh) is a long-term absentee but Joe Cole is fit again after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Jonjo Shelvey is still banned after picking up a three-match suspension for his red card against Manchester United.

Tony Pulis has a fully fit squad to choose from, aside from the suspended Andy Wilkinson, so is likely to name an unchanged XI from the side that dispatched Swansea last weekend.

That means there is still no place for Michael Owen in the starting line-up with top scorer Peter Crouch, in excellent form.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Following last week's hat-trick against Norwich, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is now joint-second top goalscorer with Steven Fletcher and Robin van Persie on five goals, while Demba Ba leads the way on six.
  • Don't be expecting too many goals on Sunday - there have been just 11 scored in eight Premier League games between the sides
  • Having scored 22 goals in 85 appearances for Liverpool, Peter Crouch (pictured) has only scored once in 10 games played against his former side.
  • Stoke City have never beaten Liverpool in a top-flight match in 49 attempts.
  • Stoke have not won any of their last 12 away games, scoring only six goals in the process.
  • Liverpool will be looking for their first back-to-back league wins since December 2011 after last week's 5-2 victory over Norwich.
  • Brendan Rodgers' side have only won two of their 12 league games at Anfield in 2012, drawing four and losing six.

Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Liverpool 3-0 Stoke City
    18.2 %
  • Liverpool 2-0 Stoke City
    14.95 %
  • Liverpool 2-1 Stoke City
    14.12 %
Head to Head
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 26 Dec 2012 Stoke City 3 - Liverpool 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 7 Oct 2012 Liverpool 0 - Stoke City 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ 18 Mar 2012 Liverpool 2 - Stoke City 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 14 Jan 2012 Liverpool 0 - Stoke City 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Capital One Cup ‎(CCUP)‎ 26 Oct 2011 Stoke City 1 - Liverpool 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Liverpool
19 May 2013Liverpool 1 - QPR 0EPL
12 May 2013Fulham 1 - Liverpool 3EPL
5 May 2013Liverpool 0 - Everton 0EPL
27 Apr 2013Newcastle United 0 - Liverpool 6EPL
21 Apr 2013Liverpool 2 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
Stoke City
19 May 2013Southampton 1 - Stoke City 1EPL
12 May 2013Stoke City 1 - Tottenham 2EPL
6 May 2013Sunderland 1 - Stoke City 1EPL
27 Apr 2013Stoke City 1 - Norwich City 0EPL
20 Apr 2013QPR 0 - Stoke City 2EPL
Odds
Returns: Liverpool £100.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £40.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Stoke City £230.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
25José Reina PaezGoalkeeper
2Glen JohnsonDefender
5Daniel AggerDefender
37Martin SkrtelDefender
47Andre Wisdom Defender
8Nuri SahinMidfielder
8Steven GerrardMidfielder
24Joe AllenMidfielder
30SusoMidfielder
31Raheem SterlingMidfielder
7Luis SuárezStriker
1Bradley JonesGoalkeeper
16Sebastián CoatesDefender
23Jamie CarragherDefender
10Joe ColeMidfielder
14Jordan HendersonMidfielder
11Oussama AssaidiStriker
29Fabio BoriniStriker
1Asmir BegovicGoalkeeper
2Geoff CameronMidfielder
4Robert HuthDefender
12Marc WilsonDefender
17Ryan ShawcrossDefender
6Glenn WhelanMidfielder
15Steven N'ZonziMidfielder
16Charlie AdamMidfielder
21Michael KightlyMidfielder
19Jonathan WaltersStriker
25Peter CrouchStriker
29Thomas SørensenGoalkeeper
35Matthew UpsonDefender
13Maurice EduMidfielder
18Dean WhiteheadMidfielder
26Matthew EtheringtonMidfielder
9Kenwyne JonesStriker
33Cameron JeromeStriker
Players to Watch
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 8
Games Goals YC RC
36 10 5 0
So often the talisman of Anfield, Steven Gerrard is delivering a firm riposte this season to those who claim he's on the downside of his career.
The England midfielder has benefitted from the arrivals of Nuri Sahin and Joe Allen, their defensive qualities allowing him to play a vital role further up the field in support of Luis Suarez.
And this freedom has seen him net twice and contribute one assist in six games this season. With his current form, it'd take a brave man to bet against him having some influence on Sunday's result.
Peter Crouch
Peter Crouch
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 25
Games Goals YC RC
34 7 2 0
The former Liverpool striker, Peter Crouch is something of a Premier League journeyman, but appears to have finally found a home at the Britannia Stadium.
Crouch has enjoyed a fruitful start to the new campaign, leading the club's scoring charts with four strikes in six games so far.
Tony Pulis will be hoping the forward can make a similar impact at Anfield, despite only scoring once in 10 matches against his former team.
Prediction
Liverpool have endured their worst start to a season in over 100 years. Stoke haven't won an away game in twelve attempts.


Last week's 5-2 win over Norwich suggested Brendan Rodgers' side are experiencing a turnaround in fortunes under his guidance, especially with the Gerrard-Suarez axis working fluidly once more.

Stoke will provide a stiffer test than Norwich though and will look to defend in numbers and break with pace against a Reds side who have looked more than a little vulnerable at the back, particularly in Thursday's 3-2 defeat to Udinese.

On that basis, expect a score draw at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
Editor's Prediction
Liverpool 1
Stoke City 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Manchester United 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0

Goal.com United Kingdom

BT Group

Editions

Copyright © 2013 Goal.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Goal.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Goal.com