The Soccer Blog: Match Preview: Liverpool FC vs Stoke City (feat. Transfer roundup)

Wednesday, 2 February 2011

Match Preview: Liverpool FC vs Stoke City (feat. Transfer roundup)

By: joehigginson | February 2nd, 2011
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Preview

The Potters travel to Liverpool tonight in search of their first ever top flight win at Anfield (no reputation to uphold at least). With the January transfer window closing, the last few days have been tinged with disappointment for both teams.

Stoke are currently negotiating a tough run of away fixtures (five out of six games) due to postponements and the FA Cup. This week would have been perfect timing to give the squad a timely boost by bringing in some fresh faces but Pulis has chosen to sell rather than buy, with both Tuncay and Eidur Gudjohnson being shown the door. Tuncay was never the be all and end all, but he was undoubtedly one of the more skilful players in the team. The most galling thing is you automatically assume that 5.5mil for a player would guarantee a place in the starting line-up. Fans have described him a square peg in a round hole and that’s a notion I to would subscribe to. There was no place within our formation for a man more focused on his own individualism than his position within the team. It might seem like a prehistoric view but it’s one a lot of Stoke and Middlesbrough fans would concur with and I think 4M from Wolfsburg is the best return we could have hoped for in the circumstances. I hope Fulham play Gudjohnson simply so us Stoke fans can formulate our own opinions on his ongoing ‘lack of match fitness’. The players regularly spoke highly of him, Rory Delap going as far to call him the most technically gifted player in the squad (although what Rory defines as technically gifted is up for debate).

And despite writing a premature obituary for him, Ricardo Fuller is to stay at the club but I highly doubt with the improved pay packet he was searching for. Ric finds himself most definitely in his twilight years now and in all honesty, I’m still expecting a retirement announcement or a lucrative move to the States (and closer to home) to come within the next few months. So as the dust settles, the general mood on the fans forums is one of disappointment that we didn’t strengthen our squad further, particular in the area of central midfield. While the majority are happy to have Pennant on board permanently, John Carew’s is being greeted unsurprisingly with a mixed reception. I’ve seen little to be impressed with from the Norwegian this season but I wait patiently for him to change my mind.

Much has changed at Liverpool since their woeful performance at the Britannia stadium several months back. With Stoke running out worthy 2-0 winners, critics tore into the Reds and their poor form away from Anfield, the performance highlighting all the shortcomings that had derailed their title challenge before it even got going. As everyone in the known galaxy is now aware, King Kenny has taken over from the beleaguered Roy Hodgson and there’s no doubt Dalglish has made an impact. Despite his godlike status on Merseyside, there was little pressure on his shoulders and no one was expecting miracles from a man out of management for a decade). But it seems familiarity has facilitated calm in the Liverpool camp and they’ve now taken seven points from the last nine.

Despite the upturn in fortunes, it couldn’t prevent star striker Fernando Torres looking for a new trough. However his departure is not the tragedy some fans are labelling it as. Liverpool are not solely reliant on his goals as suggested and you only have to look at the strikers body language over the last few months to suggest he wanted away. Assessing their latest recruits, Luis Suarez has been a player I’ve admired for a long time and a proven goalscorer (and shot-stopper) for Ajax and Uruguay. However it’s difficult to make an immediate judgement on how players from the Dutch League will respond to the step up in quality. Ajax and PSV have been feeder clubs to the PL and La Liga for a long time and have produced some sensational players (Van Nistelrooy) as well as individuals who flattered to deceive (Huntelaar). I genuinely hope he becomes a Kop favourite (although hopefully that process will begin sometime after this game!). Their other marquee signing represents a massive risk based solely on his overinflated price tag of 35M. When settled, Newcastle’s Andy Carroll will be a excellent asset to the club and will help him massively in his burgeoning international career. However, given his age, temperament and overall inexperience at PL level, I wouldn’t have offered anything over 12M and I guarantee the majority of Liverpool fans will agree with that judgement.

Teams

Very difficult to call a starting eleven for this fixture and I think at least a couple of players may be rested. I’ve a sneaking suspicion Tommy Sorenson might be retained for the game following his penalty heroics against Wolves. With Ryan Shawcross still out suspended, expect Abdoulaye Faye to partner Rob Huth in defence after his proposed move to Celtic fell through. Kenwyne Jones will be recalled to partner either Carew or Fuller up front and Dean Whitehead and Marc Wilson may both be drafted back into the lineup after being omitted on Saturday. Pennant, who’s been mysteriously absent from the first team in recent weeks, may be called upon in order to rest Delap for the weekend.

Having exited the FA Cup, expect a pretty much full strength team from Liverpool. Carroll won’t be making his debut after failing to shake off a bar stool related thigh injury while veteran Jamie Carragher could also miss out with a shoulder injury. Other than that, expect the usual faces of Gerrard, Maxi Rodriguez, Raul Meireles and Dirk Kuyt to line up behind a spritely Uruguayan ready to face his first Anfield crowd.

One To Watch

Steven Gerrard: All eyes will be on debutant Suarez but the talismanic Gerrard will always be the one to watch in this Liverpool side, particular with Torres now out the picture

Prediction

It would be great to grab any sort of result at Anfield but I just can’t see it happening. Liverpool are hitting peak form and Pulis will undoubtedly be putting more emphasis on Saturdays home tie with Sunderland. 2-0 loss.

Category: Stoke Team News

Tags: Stoke Team News
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