Liverpool vs Stoke City Prediction and Preview – 26/01/16
League Cup preview – Liverpool vs Stoke City prediction.
Steven Caulker will be hoping for a chance to show Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp what he can do in central defence. The recent signing has been used as an impact substitute in attack and will be looking for a chance to impress in his proper position before Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren return from hamstring injury. Christian Benteke is pushing for his first start in over three weeks while the Capital One Cup is an opportunity to give midfielder Joe Allen some game time.
Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross is doubtful after limping off with a back injury against Leicester on Saturday, Marc Wilson is a ready replacement if needed. Defensive midfielder Geoff Cameron has not played since damaging his ankle in the Capital One Cup semi final first leg on 5 January and needs another diagnosis. Xherdan Shaqiri was taken off as a precaution at the weekend having just recovered from hamstring problems and is expected to start.
Possible Line-ups
Liverpool: 4-3-3 formation: Mignolet; Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno; Allen, Lucas, Can; Lallana, Benteke, Firmino
Stoke City: 4-2-3-1 formation: Butland; Johnson, Wilson, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Afellay; Walters, Shaqiri, Diouf; Bojan
Statistics
- Liverpool have won 5 drawn 2 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Stoke City have won 4 drawn 2 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Liverpool have scored an average of 1.6 goals and conceded an average of 1.5 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Stoke City have scored an average of 1.3 goals and conceded an average of 1.3 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Liverpool’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Stoke City’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Liverpool are in the driving seat after winning the first leg 1-0 at Britannia Stadium and another clean sheet will ensure their place in the final. The Reds have shut out their opponents in five of 17 games in all competitions at Anfield this season. Stoke have failed to score in two meetings against Liverpool this season, losing 1-0 twice at the Britannia, and have only scored once in their last ten visits to Anfield.
Stoke suffered their biggest league defeat of the season when going down 3-0 at Leicester on Saturday and the potential loss of Shawcross is a further blow. The Potters have enjoyed some great away days this term and ran up a sequence of five away games without conceding in the autumn. More recently Stoke have looked vulnerable, conceding nine goals in their last four road trips.
Both teams have featured in high scoring games recently but given what’s at stake, Liverpool are taken to win by a narrow margin again.
Tips
Liverpool to win at 5/6 with William Hill
Under 2.5 goals at 4/5 with Marathonbet
Liverpool to win 1-0 at 11/2 with 888sport
What are your predictions?
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