Stoke City Preview & Predictions

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Anfield

2nd February 2011 – 8PM

Tomorrow night sees Liverpool take on Stoke City at Anfield in our 25th game of the Premier League season. The reverse fixture at the Britannia Stadium in November ended in a dissapointing 2-0 defeat, in a game that saw Lucas sent off. Although Stoke are an opponent we shouldn’t underestimate, I think it will be a completely different type of game at Anfield.

I don’t expect Stoke to come and defend, and hold out for a draw, because that’s not their nature. They’ll be up in our faces and pushing for the win, like Blackpool and Wolves have done earlier in the season.

But I think with our new found confidence and belief under Kenny will see us through in this one, but it wont be easy. Stoke have bought in big front man John Carew during the transfer window and he’ll be Stoke’s key man tomorrow evening. But Stoke have also lost two attackers, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Tuncay have moved to Fulham and Wolfburg respectively.

As for the Liverpool line-up, if Suarez is given his debut (his transfer is still pending international clearance and work permit issues), I think he could start up front on his own. If you haven’t already read, Andy Carroll wont be pulling on the Red shirt for a few weeks as he recovers from a thigh injury. But there’s also some more good news – Jamie Carragher will be back to full fitness for this game after the shoulder injury he picked up against Spurs. Lucas is also fit after his injury. This is the line-up I think Kenny will go for:

Reina

Kelly – Carragher – Skrtel – Johnson

Kuyt – Meireles – Lucas – Maxi

Gerrard

Suarez

That’s my team, with Johnson still at left-back where he has impressed, Lucas slotting back in the midfield to replace Poulsen and Suarez replacing Torres. You can leave your own line-ups and predicted scores in the comments box below, I look forward to reading them.

My prediction: Liverpool 2 – 0 Stoke

28 Comments

  1. How about Agger at left back?

    Then, when Kenny makes his 65+ substitution, he’ll replace Maxi with Johnson, instead of Aurelio?

    Plausable, I think.

    Is Lucas fit again?

  2. Our strongest team at home is:

    Reina
    Kelly Carragher Agger Aurelio
    Johnson Meireles Gerrard Maxi
    Cole
    Suarez

  3. @Thomas: Agger is very popular with Kenny, so it could be either of them playing there, but I don’t mind who. They’re both strong players.

    @Fawad Yes Lucas is fit for tomorrow. He’s confirmed a couple of times on twitter. (@LucasLeiva87)

  4. my line up would be..

    reina
    kelly carra agger johnson
    gerrard lucas
    kuyt raul maxi
    suarez (4-2-3-1)

    predictions….3-1 YNWA

  5. Just wondering what you think will happen if Suarez doesn’t get clearance in time….. Kuyt up top on his own?

    I think our current strongest team is :

    Reina
    Kelly Carragher Agger Aurellio
    Johnson Miereles Gerrard Cole
    Kuyt Suarez

    Subs: Maxi, Wilson, Pacheco, Shelvey, Jones, Skrtel, Jovanovic.

    When Carrol is fit he can take Kuyt’s place, who will in turn take Jovanovic’s place on the bench

  6. I’m not sure we can expect Suarez to play because of the paperwork etc and if he does then I don’t think he’ll have that explosive Diouf and Torres home debut we’ve seen in the past as he will take a bit of time to settle in.

    I hope he does though because Stoke are in my least five favourite teams in the prem!

  7. Hmm, against Chelsea though I would prefer to see the formation:

    Reina
    Kelly-Skrtel-Agger-Johnson
    Kuyt-Gerrard-Lucas-Maxi
    Meireles
    Suarez

    I don’t think it would be right to include Carragher in this game as Skrtel and Agger have a good partnership going and it would be a shame to end it in such a big game for reputations sake.

  8. reina

    kelly – mad greek – carra – johnson

    dirk – stevie – raul – maxi

    joey cole

    suarez.

    liverpool win 4-1 – suarez (2), stevie, meireles.

  9. Reina
    Kelly Carra Agger Fab
    Kuyt Lucas Maxi
    Gerrard Raul
    Suarez

    Subs: Johnson, Jova, Gulasci, Cole, Shelvey, Skrtel, Pacheco

    2-nil Liverpool

    YNWA!

  10. I’d be happy with a win, whatever the score. We need points, plain and simple. Let’s get the Stoke scuffle behind us to prepare for the battle with Chelsea. Keep in mind they will have one day more to prepare and freshen up, and they are playing at home.

  11. Hey, would you (LFC Liverpool base fans) do a favor for us (LFC International base fans), bring back the big nose at Anfield, shatter the Stoke players through their bones, remind them this is Anfield, don’t mess with us!

  12. Mostly agree with your lineup Brad, but I prefer Agger than Skrtel. Kenny most likely will use 4-3-3 so it would be

    Reina
    Kelly-Carra-Agger-Johnson
    Lucas-Meireles-Maxi
    Gerrard-Suarez-Kuyt

    Subs: Gulacsi, Skrtel, Aurelio, Shelvey, Spearing, Pacheco, Ngog

  13. If Suarez doesn’t get his work permit, who’s going to play NGog or Pacheco or Jovanovic ?
    Now i miss Babel

  14. my line up//
    reina
    kelly,carra,agger,johnson
    kuyt,raul,maxi
    gerrard
    suarez,andy caroll
    (4,3,1,2)
    that is a winning fomation trust!!

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