Topic: Stoke City vs Liverpool FC. The Preview. Wed 26th Dec (Away)

[horne]

the so called fantastic brutal defence of theres wont handle pacy direct dribbles into the box from the likes of sterling and suarez...i see penalties...probability suggests we cant keep getting them turned down

[forrest1980]

If we play like we can just outside their box and get a few cute passes through.....one of them will scythe our players down and ta da.......penalty !!!!

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

It would be nice if we had the ability to counter attack teams like Stoke. They are very hard to break through when a possession game is being played so the counter attack would be an effective tactic to use, but I can only remember us dpi g it once this Eason and that was against Swansea.

Realistically, I think it will be a draw. But I'm hoping that Suarez or one of our attacking players can come up with a moment of magic that gets us a goal and we hold on to a one goal margin.

[CorKopite]

...i see penalties...probability suggests we cant keep getting them turned down

Probability has suggested that for a couple of months now. Fully expecting us to be turned down a few stonewallers.

[12Kings]

Early goal will rattle stoke, and we'll walk all over them. We will win this.

[Zlen]

Why is this game played so late?

[Chivasino]

Why is this game played so late?

For the sake of Sky

[Jamie1983]

Good luck with your approach mate!

Me, I'm looking for CL football next year.  And a loss against Stoke (however unlikely!) won't change that!

So you like to look ahead more than 1 game eh?
meh, whatever floats ur boat!

[eLToRo]

the so called fantastic brutal defence of theres wont handle pacy direct dribbles into the box from the likes of sterling and suarez...i see penalties...probability suggests we cant keep getting them turned down

Some people are saying we shuldnt play sterling..

I think it's the perfect game for him.He has shown at reserve level that despite him being very small and light he can get around and inbetween the bigger players and make them look like fools.

Play him and get him running at huth,shawcross etc and they will struggle.As we keep the ball on the ground I cannot see him stuggling at all.Plus on set pieces play him as the furthest man forward .

[Jamie1983]

Some people are saying we shuldnt play sterling..

I think it's the perfect game for him.He has shown at reserve level that despite him being very small and light he can get around and inbetween the bigger players and make them look like fools.

Play him and get him running at huth,shawcross etc and they will struggle.As we keep the ball on the ground I cannot see him stuggling at all.Plus on set pieces play him as the furthest man forward .

Sterling will start, it's a no brainer.
He'll demolish that slow physical back 4 with his pace

[Alex7]

Sterling will start, it's a no brainer.
He'll demolish that slow physical back 4 with his pace

You think there will be any room for him to exploit?

[Jamie1983]

You think there will be any room for him to exploit?

infront of the back 4, i don't think he'll have the luxury of running behind the backline like many ppl think
he'll have to do most of his work inside and running at defenders which i think he's brilliant at.

[smicer07]

Just had the worst Christmas present ever, tickets to stoke away.




Not really, don't think I'd go back to that shithole if you paid me. Awful ground and awful team.

[TepidT2O]

I quite like watching stoke ruffle the feathers of the bigger sides.....

Except when it's us

[poolfan81]

When we played them back in october we had johnson and wisdom as our full backs - have improved since then

Sahin was in midfield - lucas has improved this position

Stoke are a team that I feel suit us - they have no pace that can threaten us when we turn over the ball

The fulham result at the weekend is still glossing over some of our difficulties - we lack pace and look vulnerable in midfield we aint very solid

Looking at tomorrows game it's going to be a cagey affair, would like to see hendersson in midfield instead of suso it gives us more pace in the centre and a bit more strength, possible 3-5-2 (coates,skertle,agger enrique,hendersson, lucas, allen/gerrard ( one needs a rest),johnson,suarez, sterling

Stoke are very solid at the back, and will obviously attack us in the aerial department

Looks like a 0 - 0 or I fear a stoke win
 

[UntouchableLuis]

Sterling won't have the chance to run at their defence - he'll be kicked to shit.

I'm just hoping for some Suarez brilliance.

[007.lankyguy]

The key in terms of attack is for us to manipulate the space. Stoke are well organised and you really have to work hard to open them up. It's really important for us to pull them out of shape by getting between the lines and switching the play and unbalancing them in the wide areas. I think Sterling will start because he can open up space inside when he stretches the opponent from the sides; if we switch it to him, they'll double up and that will leave players unmarked or single marked in the middle.

We have to stretch them horizontally - I agree with phaseofplay's point earlier about playing quickly into the wide areas on transition. It's a chance for us to use the space left from their supporting runners trying to win the second ball. We have to win those second balls first though.

[IvanDobskey]

I'd put money on this one being a nil nil bore draw to be honest.

Unless of course Suarez can wriggle free of Robert Hoof and co for a moment of magic

Lets just hope one of their aimless punts into our box doesn't end up causing havoc and a goal...

[steveeastend]

The line up will be even more important here, no clue what Rodgers will be going for though.

I would go for....


                              Reina

           Srktel        Coates      Agger
 
Johnson     Lucas       Henderson     Enrique

 Downing            Suarez                  Sterling   



Giving Gerrard a rest and go for some physical strength.     

[007.lankyguy]

The line up will be even more important here, no clue what Rodgers will be going for though.


                              Reina

           Srktel        Coates      Agger
 
Johnson     Lucas        Gerrard         Enrique

                       Henderson

Downing            Suarez                  Sterling       

That's twelve players

[steveeastend]

That's twelve players

I know, corrected version above

[Fordy]

I know, corrected version above

Henderson won't be starting. So why do it to yourself mate?

[steveeastend]

Henderson won't be starting. So why do it to yourself mate?

Why not?

Coates won´t be starting but Henderson could be a realistic option instead of Shelvey/Allen together with Gerrard and Lucas.

[Fordy]

Why not?

Coates won´t be starting but Henderson could be a realistic option instead of Shelvey/Allen together with Gerrard and Lucas.

Just can't see it mate. Like Joe Cole it doesn't matter how well he plays, he will end up on the bench and not in the starting 11. How many PL matches has he started this season? It's not going to happen. 

Gerrard and Lucas will start for sure and it will be one of Shelvey or Allen.

[Cre_mCr_cker]

I reckon we should try and fight fire with fire, go physical at them.

                      Reina
Johnson    Skrtel      Coates      Agger

                 Wisdom     Carra

  Gerrard         Coady           Enrique

                      Ngoo.

[gorgepir]

Think a midfield of Gerrard, Lucas and Hendo would be best here, but think it will be the first two with Allen instead.

[latortuga]

Maybe...just maybe we'll take one of the numerous chances we seem to create in away games.

Otherwise 0-0 or 1/2-0 Stoke.

[Fordy]

Think a midfield of Gerrard, Lucas and Hendo would be best here, but think it will be the first two with Allen instead.

Don't see whats wrong with midfield 3 that batter Fulham last week.

Hendo has made 2 PL starts all season highly doubt its going to happen.

[Twelfth Man]

x11 in a 4-3-3

[clinical]

I hate this fixture so so much

[LiamG]

Stoke are a bit more physical than Fulham

[iamrobk]

I hate stoke.

Think it'll be a 1-1 draw, both goals in the second half, them scoring first.

[Twelfth Man]

I hate stoke.

Think it'll be a 1-1 draw, both goals in the second half, them scoring first.

How do you manage to be so specific? Something in your waters?

[Anywhichwayicant]

I hate stoke.

Think it'll be a 1-1 draw, both goals in the second half, them scoring first.

If they score first, our kit man can pack the bags.

[Twelfth Man]

If they score first, our kit man can pack the bags.

"I think Liverpool players have no backbone"...

[J-Mc-]

Just saw this rumoured team, and by rumoured I mean that it's just smashed Stoke 2-0 on my footy manager...

Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Lucas, Allen, Gerrard, Henderson, Suarez, Downing.

[usernamefc]

Stoke fans seem to be part of the teams that think we've played bad all season, when reality is the opposite, just that we can't finish.

It's boxing day, so I'm expecting a draw/loss, but it's also at 7:45pm, which isn't a time we normally play at on boxing day, so maybe the late kick off might help a little.

[Rusty]

Never look forward to this fixture. Such an ugly spectacle through from their ugly tactics to their ugly players to the ugly prospect of hearing ugly Pulis spouting his ugly shite.

It's just all very ugly.

[Lenin.]

Just attack the c*nts. Its fucking Stoke, not Barcelona.

[joezydudek]

If they score first, our kit man can pack the bags.

Like in the League Cup the last time we played at the Britannia. They scored first and then, oh!