Stoke City vs Liverpool
Venue: bet365 Stadium
Kick off: 3PM
Stoke City play host to Liverpool at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday (today) looking to reclaim a place in the top half of the Premier League table after four matches without success.
As for Liverpool, they will see this fixture as an opportunity to return to winning ways after they could only draw with Bournemouth in midweek.
When Stoke battled their way to a goalless draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, there was every expectation – both inside and outside of the club – that they would kick on and solidify their place in the top 10 of the standings.
However, while they could count themselves unfortunate to slip to a 2-1 defeat at home to leaders Chelsea, they have not shown enough in away fixtures at both Leicester City and Burnley and Mark Hughes has a job on his hands to rally his players ahead of the visit of the Merseyside giants.
Given their eight-point cushion above the dropzone, Stoke probably have enough in reserve to ensure that they do not become embroiled in a fight to remain in the Premier League, but their form will be a worry to Hughes as he looks to take the club a further step forward.
Throughout this season, much has been made of Liverpool’s apparent lack of strength in depth, and Jurgen Klopp has now reached a stage where the faith he has placed in some of his players needs to be repaid.
Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane have arguably been Liverpool’s two best players this season but while Lallana could potentially be back by the start of May, his offensive teammate has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
The Senegalese forward has contributed 13 goals in 27 league appearances during the current campaign so he will inevitably be missed, but it hands an opportunity to Divock Origi to deputise after eight months of being in and out of the side.
Stoke City possible XI: Grant, Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters, Cameron, Adam, Allen, Afellay, Arnautovic, Crouch.
Liverpool Possible XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Leiva, Can, Wijnaldum, Milner, Firmino, Origi.