The Official Match Thread: Liverpool Vs Stoke City. (Premier League)

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Hello and welcome to the official match thread for Sunday's Barclays Premier League encounter between Liverpool & Stoke City. The game is to be played on Sunday 7th October 2012 at Anfield with a 3PM kick-off. English television stations aren't showing the game but streams will be posted before & during the game.

Preview.

There was a time when opposing teams used to turn up at Anfield, lose and go home.

It was said that visiting sides were often beaten in the tunnel, perhaps intimidated by the "This Is Anfield" sign, the presence of which was described by the legendary Bill Shankly "to remind our lads who they're playing for, and to remind the opposition who they're playing against."

One can only imagine what he would make of this year's current home record as Liverpool have stuttered to record just two league wins from their 12 games in 2012, losing half of them. It's a run of matches which began with a goalless draw against Stoke in January, one of six occasions when the Reds have been unable to even muster a goal in front of their own supporters.

New boss Brendan Rodgers' Anfield reign began with the visit of the two Manchester clubs and Arsenal, a testing challenge for any new incumbent as he has attempted to establish himself in his new home.

Having secured just one point from that heavyweight trio, Liverpool fans will be expecting a great deal more from the duel with Stoke.

Historically there seems little to encourage the visitors, who've never won a top flight match at Anfield in 49 attempts. Indeed their last victory there was in the old second division in March 1959, which even pre-dates Bill Shankly's arrival.

Stoke, however, will feel they've rarely been as well-equipped to end that depressing run. In Charlie Adam, Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant and, of course, Michael Owen they also have ex-Liverpool employees particularly keen to impress, so they certainly won't be lacking the determination necessary to inflict more consternation.

Match preview taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19776345

Injury News.

Liverpool.

• Jose Enrique- Knee Injury.*
• Lucas Leiva- Hip/Thigh Injury.
• Martin Kelly- ACL Knee Injury.

NOTE: Jonjo Shelvey is serving the third & last game of his suspension after being sent off against Manchester United in the league.

Stoke City.

• Glenn Whelan- Hamstring Injury.*

*Indicates player will have a late fitness test and could be available for today's game.

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Liverpool 0 - 0 Stoke City​

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Goalscorers:

Liverpool:

Reina
-
Wisdom
Skrtel
Agger
Johnson
-
Allen
Gerrard
Cole
-
Assaidi
Suarez
Sterling

SUBS:

Jones
Carragher
Coates
Henderson
Sahin
Suso
Borini

-

Liverpool Substitution: Suso comes off to be replaced by Joe Cole: 67th minute.

Liverpool Substitution: Nuri Sahin comes off to be replaced by Oussama Assaidi: 79th minute.

-

Stoke City:

Begovic
-
Cameron
Shawcross
Huth
Wilson
-
Walters
N'Zonzi
Edu
Whitehead
Etherington
-
Crouch

SUBS:

Sorensen
Upson
Whelan
Adam
Kightly
Jones
Jerome

-

Stoke City Substitution: Glenn Whelan comes off to be replaced by Dean Whitehead: 20th minute.

Stoke City Substitution: Michael Kightly comes off to be replaced by Matthew Etherington: 63rd minute.

Stoke City Substitution: Charlie Adam comes off to be replaced by Maurice Edu: 80th minute.

-

YNWA.

 

Awesome. Cheers, Chris!

 

First of all, apologies for this week's match thread.

Haven't had any time to start writing it up and therefore, I haven't really done anything. It's a rush job this week i'm afraid.

Normal service will be resumed after the international break for the Reading game.

 

This half arsed match thread is a sure indication that Chris knows you are doomed.
Up the Potters!

 

Don't listen to him Chris!

Him and Stoke are going down!

 

Chris was wondering when you were going to do the match thread

Like i've just put on another thread.I would love to say 3-0 but we are unable to keep a clean sheet ATM so going to say 3-1 for this one

We all know how Stoke play their game (on the counter) I hope our back 4 ARE NOT AND got it drummed in their heads by BR the other night and defend like they should do but like i said we will prob concede a goal

COME ON YOU REDS

 

Hopefully we can redeem ourselves after the Udinese game and get some 'home pride' back. Our defense went to sleep for a period at 1-1 against the Italians and suddenly it was 3-1. That small period aside, I thought we controlled the game and looked the much better team.

Ah, well. Hopefully the lads will come back with a venegence against the potters. And, if so, my prediction of us winning 2-1 could be a touch conservative (I hope!).

 

4-0 Stoke.

Pennant, Adam, Crouch & Owen to get the goals.

WE'RE DOOMED!

 

If we play Suso, Suarez and Sterling as our front trio (or Assaidi in there somewhere), we've got a chance of splitting them open. If we play with Downing or Borini (and I do like him), I think we'll lack the creativity to break through.

Midfield wise, is Shelvey still banned? Sahin, Allen and Shelvey if not.
If he is banned, Sahin, Allen and Gerrard.

Lets hope for a good reception for Owen!

 

**** Owen.

 

Yeah Owen can piss right off.

 

Nice sentiment on the Owen front, SM. NOt going to happen, though, unfortunately. He'll get his usual jeers.

I think Gerrard will start. He's captain and I think Shelvey is still serving his suspension, regardless.

I don't want to jinx it but I think Stevie is due a goal, TBH.

 

For the record, I was being sarcastic about Owen.
I DO hope that Crouchy is cheered though, we should never have let him leave. Good guy and a good player for us.

 

Yeah always liked Crouchy.

Handy little (sort of) player.

 

Liverpool will lose 3-0 but have 97% possession.

nah, I think you'll win this week but Stoke dispatched Swansea easily enough so they may be able to combat your passing game.

 

No Owen for Stoke, not even on the bench. Adam and Crouch Start.

 

Official team: Reina, Wisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Allen, Gerrard, Sahin, Suso, Sterling, Suarez.

Subs: Jones, Henderson, Cole, Assaidi, Coates, Borini, Carragher.

That's what you get Mr. Downing

 

Swansea seem to be playing much more direct football this season though. Losing Allen was a big blow for them and their passing game.

 

Came to say that. Good team, as expected, no changes.

 

Happy with that team, as expected really. Good to see BR putting Downing in his place, we'll have no outbursts at this club thankyou.