Matchday Preview: Stoke City v LIVERPOOL (Premier League)
Venue: Britannia Stadium
Date: 26/12/12
Kick-Off: 19:45
Brendan Rodgers has no fresh injury worries ahead of Liverpool’s Boxing Day clash with Stoke, where the Reds will look to get their first Premier League win at the Britannia Stadium. Apart from Fabio Borini and Martin Kelly, who remain injured, Rodgers has a fully fit squad to choose from going into Wednesday’s game.
Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling will hope to be recalled to the starting XI after being rested for Saturday’s 4-0 over Fulham, while Stewart Downing will be optimistic about his chances of retaining his place in the side after a superb performance at the weekend. Downing scored one goal against the Cottagers, setting up another and the former Aston Villa midfielder is hoping his performance will help him convince Brendan Rodgers to keep him at Anfield. However after taking 45 appearances to score his first league goal for Liverpool, Reds fans will expect to see more from the 28-year-old if he is to remain at the club.
Two former Liverpool strikers may line up for Stoke on Wednesday, with Michael Owen close to full fitness after a hamstring problem and Peter Crouch hoping to start after coming off the bench for the Potters in their last three matches. Crouch is Stoke’s top scorer this season, with four league goals in 17 appearances.
Stoke drew 0-0 with Liverpool when they visited Anfield in October and the Potters are unbeaten in their last eight games – their best ever run in the Premier League. This is Liverpool’s fifth Premier League visit to the Britannia and the Reds have lost two of their previous visits, drawing the other two. However Liverpool did win at Stoke in the Carling Cup last season, beating the Potters 2-1 last October. Both Liverpool and Stoke are on 25 points going into Wednesday’s fixture, with Liverpool having a superior goal difference.
The Reds are four points behind Chelsea in the league, having played two games more. A victory at the Britannia will keep Liverpool in eighth place, while defeat could see them drop down to 11th. After achieving his biggest win of the season on Saturday, Rodgers will hope to lead the Reds to another positive result on Boxing Day.
Update:
LFC Starting line-up: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard, Shelvey; Suso, Downing, Suarez.
Subs: Jones, Carragher, Coates, Henderson, Allen, Cole, Sterling.
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December 27th, 2012
No one said it was going to be easy getting back to the top 4 , but the least we can do is give ourselves a chance – by hiring a decent manager .
A good manager pulls results out of the fire , gets a result when the teams not playing well , changes something thats gets a goal , signs good players not the muck rodgers bought .
We must get a good experienced manager , and we need one QUICK
December 27th, 2012
That’s funny… I thought good players pulled results out… Rogers is and should be under the pump. But if u think it would all be fixed by changing managers then your as deluded as the next bloke.
We are 2 attacking midfielders, 2 strikers, 2 wingers short of being a genuine top four side.
Shlevy, suso and sterling all boys against men. Gerards second best football is behind him. Our signings over the last 2 years have been embarrassing, and yeas, there’s massive question marks over the manager… But those who think the manager is our only problem are deluded.
December 27th, 2012
You are right . Not only would a decent manager get results – he would have a better squad – No decent manager would have spent our money on Allen Borini Assadi and Sahin
December 27th, 2012
Its funny how Rodgers 3 little fanboys dont come on here after another embarrassing performance , yet we win they comment here about how brilliant Rodgers is doing . Sad really
Anyway , another rubbish performance . Rodgers doesn’t know what to do , never did , never will
December 27th, 2012
Hey Freddie, blah blah blah same old crap coming from you. It’s was always going to be difficult to beat stoke at the Britannia, instead of saying how crap BR is why don’t you offer some constructive critism for once.
December 27th, 2012
What a let down… Keep waiting for things to click but they just won’t. Questions will continue to be asked of Rogers as they should. There’s a reality that many seem to be missing. We are ordinary. Bring rafa in and he’d do no better. Sterling suso downing hendo Allen shelvy are all consistent features in the side who fail to have an impact.
There’s youngsters in there who have the excuse of age however we simply don’t have a top 4 squad. Until this is adressed, which will take 2 years minimum, this is what we are… Ordinary.
December 27th, 2012
We were Ordinary when Rafa took over . Do u not remember we had NO strikers available for part of season ?Because of all the injuries we had to play Sinama as lone striker for about 10 games . but he didnt buy Allen – he bought Alonso . he didnt buy Borini – he bought Garcia . Rodgers has excellent youth to bring through – Rafa had only Mellor .
Rafas ordinary team finished 5th and won champions league with a team of 1 fit striker (Baros) , Smicer !!!! , a rubbish Kewell ,Djimi Traore !!!!!!! , Biscan and a useless goalie .
December 27th, 2012
Rafa also had 5 spaniards struggling to cope with PL , and a crippling injury list to contend with , AND Rafa himself was not used to English football , plus he lost Owen on last day of transfer window
BR has had none of these problems , yet ……
December 27th, 2012
a good manager gets the best out of even mediocre players , rodgers cant .
December 27th, 2012
fsg need to act now b4 he buys more crap in january
December 27th, 2012
there are some fools on here saying nobody could do better than BR with what hes got . Are they for flipping real ? Clarkes got a team of rubbish flyin high with WBA , Moyes same with Everton . Hell even Norwich , Stoke and Swansea are doing better than us and none of their players cost as much as half of Joe Allen
In Fact Joe Allen costs MORE than the whole Norwich team – Fact is ANYONE would do better than that excuse of a manager
December 27th, 2012
rodgers record so far is shocking and embarrassing . many managers up and down the country are getting sacked for less
can someone tell me , when did failure and poor performance become accepted at liverpool fc ?
the man is not up to it
December 27th, 2012
plz plz get rogers sack . rogers is making pool bad
December 27th, 2012
How much more do we have to suffer before we sack that egotistical moron Rodgers ?
December 27th, 2012
fsg make our wishes come true , and sack rodgers please