Christian Benteke v Marc Muniesa
With Stoke’s best centre-back Ryan Shawcross out injured, Benteke can cause his deputy a world of problems. It’s likely to be Muniesa alongside Wollscheid, although Geoff Cameron is also in contention. Muniesa is a technical centre-back, more renowned for his passing and positioning than his brutality. If our Belgian powerhouse can bully the opposing defender early on, winning his aerial battles and not letting the defender get too tight to him when the ball’s played to his feet, we’ll be in. This will be Benteke’s first chance to impose himself on an opposing backline, and he’s readymade for the tough, physical Stoke challenge. Let’s hope he’s up for the fight and that his finishing is on song too.
