Match preview: Stoke City vs Liverpool

Gameweek 19: Stoke City vs Liverpool

Stadium: The Britannia Stadium

Referee: Howard Webb

Kick-off: 01:10 IST, 27th December, 19:45 GMT, 26th December

One of the most controversial sides in Premier League history, Stoke City, will do battle late in the evening on ‘Boxing Day’ at their famed temple, the Britannia, against the Reds of Merseyside, Liverpool, in a match that both sides will be desperate to win. Liverpool and Stoke occupy the 8th and 9th spot on the Premier League, with mere goal difference separating the sides, being level on 25 points each. The Reds will look to continue their ascent up the increasingly crowded top half of the table, while the Potters are looking to solidify their mid-table status.

Team News:

Liverpool:

Despite generally play excellent football under the new manager this season, the Reds have had terrible luck. A combination of poor finishing, refereeing blunders and the clinical effectiveness of their opponents have kept Liverpool rooted to mid-table for nearly half a season now. However, their form has hugely improved in December, with the Merseysiders having won four out of their five matches, including three of the last four league games, the only blemish being a disastrous 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa.

The Reds have been aggressively offensive the entire season, averaging 19.2 shots on goal a game, the highest in the entire league. Their general on-pitch dominance is telling in the possession stats as well, with the Reds maintaining an average of 58.3% possession per game, the fourth highest in the league. The team has excelled in ball retention, but has lacked the offensive firepower and at times, even defensive stability.

Luis Suarez has been in imperious form this season and will lead the line once again, while Stewart Downing should also be handed a start, given his dominative outing against Fulham during the weekend. Joe Allen should also return to starting line-up, along with Raheem Sterling after the du0 were rested against Fulham. Lucas is likely to drop to the bench, as Rodgers looks to ease the hard-tackling midfielder into action, just weeks after his return from injury.

Injuries: Martin Kelly, Fabio Borini

Stoke City:

The stingiest team in the league, Stoke have conceded a paltry 13 goals the entire campaign, the lowest in the entire league. Having kept an impressive nine clean sheets the entire campaign, another league high, the Potters have seemingly become even more difficult to beat this time around, a testament to the incredible work of Tony Pulis, despite the growing amount of detractors.

The Potters are unbeaten at the Britannia this season, and are currently on an eight game unbeaten streak since their loss to Norwich City in early November. Their defence has been built on rock solid partnership with the uncompromising pair of captain Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth, ably backed up by Asmir Begovic. Despite the excellent defence, Stoke have experienced a torrid time up front, having scored just 15 goals the entire season.

Stoke haven’t faced an extremely offensive side like Liverpool since losing 4-2 to Man United, and were rather lucky to escape White Hart Lane with a point against Tottenham, and will have to be prepared as Liverpool are far more aggressive than Tottenham.

Peter Crouch, the top scorer with 4 goals, will be the target of Stoke’s famous long balls, and Liverpool legend Michael Owen is looking likely to miss out against his former club with a hamstring strain. Former Red Charlie Adam could also miss out, given the tragic death of his father last week.

Injuries: Michael Owen, Rory Delap, Marc Wilson

Head-t0-head:

The Potters possess a decent record against Liverpool, having beaten them in the corresponding fixture last season, while their match earlier this season at Anfield resulted in a goalless draw.

EPL – 7/10/12 – Liverpool 0-0 Stoke City

FA Cup – 18/3/12 – Liverpool 2-1 Stoke City

EPL – 14/1/12 – Liverpool 0-0 Stoke City

League Cup – 26/10/11 – Stoke City 1-2 Liverpool

EPL – 10/9/11 – Stoke City 1-0 Liverpool

Formation and line up:

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Allen, Gerrard, Downing, Suarez and Sterling.

Stoke City (4-5-1): Begovic, Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Wilkinson, Walters, Shotton, Whelan, N’Zonzi, Etherington, Crouch.

Form guide (last five EPL games):

Liverpool (WLWWL)

22/12/12 – Liverpool 4-0 Fulham

15/12/12 – Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa

9/12/12 – West Ham United 2-3 Liverpool

1/12/12 – Liverpool 1-0 Southampton

28/11/11 – Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool

Stoke City (DDDWW)

22/12/12 – Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Stoke

15/12/12 – Stoke 1-1 Everton

8/12/12 – Aston Villa 0-0 Stoke

1/12/12 – West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Stoke

28/11/11 – Stoke 2-1 Newcastle United

Prediction:

It will be a classic game of defence vs attack, and Stoke will look to stop the Reds dead in their tracks. The Reds will be optimistic, but Stoke haven’t lost at the Britannia all season long. It will be a close call; expect the honours to be even, with a record 11th draw for the home side this current campaign.

Stoke City 1-1 Liverpool

(stats from whoscored.com)