Hello and welcome to the official match thread for Saturday's Premier League game between Stoke City and Liverpool. Preview. Both sides have started the season well. Stoke City currently have 5 points and are 9th in ther table. They started the Premier League season with a 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea. They then went to newly-promoted Norwich and collected a point after a 1-1 draw. Norwich had taken the lead but a 94th minute goal by Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones got Tony Pulis's side a point. Their next league game was against West Brom. Many people had this game down for a tight draw but a last-minute goal from Ryan Shotton got Stoke City the three points. Stoke have also been involved in the Europa League this season and have picked up some excellent results. They beat Hajduk Split 2-0 on aggregate after two 1-0 victories. They then had to play FC Thun. They beat the swiss side 5-1 on aggregate which sealed Stoke's place in the Europa League group stage. Tony Pulis has also been busy in the transfer market and, in my opinion, has brought in some excellent players. The free transfers of Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson along with the purchases of Wilson Palacios, Cameron Jerome and ex-Liverpool striker Peter Crouch means that Stoke's squad has been strengthened and he has spent the money provided well. Liverpool have also started the season well. A 1-1 draw against Sunderland wasn't the start many Liverpool fans expected but, in my opinion, Sunderland fully deserved the point. Liverpool then went down to North London to take on Arsenal. The game was tight but after Emmanuel Frimpong was sent off, Liverpool took advantage and an own goal from Aaron Ramsey and a goal from Luis Suarez made sure that Liverpool collected an important 3 points. They then went down to St. James Park and played Exeter in the Carling Cup. Goals from Luis Suarez, Maxi and Andy Carroll gave Liverpool a 3-0 lead but a late goal from Exeter striker Daniel Nardiello gave Exeter a consolation goal. Liverpool then played Bolton in the league and an impressive performance gave Kenny Dalglish's side a 3-1 victory to leave them 3rd in the league with 7 points. Kenny Dalglish was also busy in the transfer market and picked up 8 players. Players like Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Jose Enrique have gone into the side and solved issues in the Liverpool team. Players like Jordan Henderson, Villyan Bijev and Sebastian Coates have massive potential and hopefully they will fulfill it and become first-team regulars. Craig Bellamy and Alexander Doni have experience on their side and that is important to the team. Injury News. Stoke's record signing Peter Crouch is set to make his debut against his former club. Other new recruits Wilson Palacios and Cameron Jerome are hoping to be involved, while Marc Wilson and Rory Delap face fitness tests. Liverpool's fit-again defender Glen Johnson is in line to make his first appearance of the season. Craig Bellamy is likely to be on the bench after re-signing for the club, but Steven Gerrard is still not fit. My Prediction- Stoke City 1-1 Liverpool. Stoke City 1 - 0 Liverpool Goalscorers: Stoke... Walters (21st minute) Stoke City: Begovic Wilson Upson Shawcross Wilkinson Jones Whitehead Palacios Pennant Walters Crouch SUBS: Sorensen Etherington Whelan Huth Shotton Delap Jerome Huth off and Wilkinson on. Etherington off and K.Jones on. Delap off and Palacios on. Liverpool: Reina Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique Bellamy Lucas Adam Downing Carroll Suarez SUBS: Doni Srktel Coates Maxi Spearing Kuyt Henderson Henderson off and Bellamy on. Kuyt off and Carroll on. Skrtel off and Johnson on. Hope you enjoy the game. YNWA. [video=youtube;SmANoRRcKn8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmANoRRcKn8&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Any reliable source to watch the game on ? Going for 3-1 win imo.(Optimistic since stoke also have alot of new players on their books, so could be a good time to meet them at home).
Good work Chris. Naturally I'm hoping for a win and a clean sheet so I'll go for 2-0 for us. It'll be tough though I'm sure, whatever happens.
My head says it will be a score draw, maybe 2-2. As previous poster stated, a few new faces at Stoke so could be a good time to play them away from home as they might not be the tight-knit unit we expect with a different set-up. Think this could be a game that Carroll could be important in, not just attacking-wise but defensively also. Suarez anytime goalscorer at 7/5 is my bet for this match.
Some good points. Would like to see Carroll start as he's in my fantasy team and I need the points! As for the betting, I fancy Bellamy to get a goal off the bench... Not sure what the odds are though.
Ideally I would like to see Carroll start and have a good game, score a goal or two. But at the same time I would be happy to see the same side that played Bolton.
Liverpool team will be: -------------------Reina Johnson----Carragher---Agger---Enrique Henderson-----Lucas---Adam---Downing --------------Carroll---Suarez Bench: Doni, Skrtel, Kelly/Flanagan, Spearing, Maxi, Kuyt, Bellamy Too soon for Gerrard on the bench is it? That will be it, maybe a few things different though...... It is a tough tough game against Stoke, I never think their game is hoof ball, it is high energy close down and get the ball tactics and using as much width as possible. They can play whatever game they like anyway, but I am worried they may be a bit too quick to close down Adam and keep his game quiet. On the other hand, best of luck with dealing with Suarez! We have players on the bench to change the game and I think we will win 3-1.
I agree with Saintanton Stoke may and this is may have the problem we had in our first game and thats integrating a number of new players into the side. Apparently Pulis is possibly going to start all three, I reckon this is something we can capitalise on. If Kenny is clever, he should with the exception of Glen Johnson instead of Martin Kelly, go with the same side that beat Bolton. Stokes centre halves like a physical battle, so I reckon this is a game for movement over brawn. So I would go with Kuyt and Suarez up front to tire Stokes defence with Andy Carroll coming off the bench when Suarez and Kuyt have ran rings around them. Prediction. Liverpool 2 Stoke 1. Suarez Kuyt Jones for Stoke.
Chris I'm not liking your prediction mate! I think it will be a tough game. And a 3-1 win for us, will end up being a flattering scoreline
I'm going to be brave and guessing that we can get our 2nd clean sheet of the season. Stoke 0-2 Liverpool but as Sky said, a flattering scorline.
Stoke is a difficult place to go... I'm being a bit pessimistic with my prediction! However, as the game gets closer, i'm feeling more confident...
----------------Pepe------------------ Skrtel-------Carra----Agger----Enrique Henderson--Lucas----Adam-----Downing ------------Kuyt----Suarez------------ Apparently that's the team. Bench: Doni, Glen, Spearing, Bellers, Andy, Maxi & Coates.
Red and white kop website. The guy who said it is always spot on when I check on there for team news.
Skrtel is a good choice actually in some ways. For a start he wasn't the disaster i thought he be against Bolton, and secondly he will give us extra aerial ability when it comes to set pieces and stuff. We are starting with 4 defenders who are tough as old boots. Also it worked very well against Bolton and i think we're better of bringing Carroll on to help battle and protect a lead rather than match Stoke from the off. I'm so excited for this game i miss league football so much. As long as we play some good football i'll be happy, result is always going to be tough.
Agreed, plus Kenny isn't one to drop people when they're in form, like Skrtel had a good game against Bolton when he came on.
