Sunday, October 07, 2012

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Stoke City

Liverpool will hope their mini-revival has not lost any momentum when they host Stoke City on Sunday afternoon.

The Anfield club hammered Norwich City 5-2 in the Premier League last weekend but then threw away the lead to lose at home to Udinese in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Manager Brendan Rodgers was very critical of his players after the midweek defeat, describing them as making 'lazy' errors, and he will be demanding improvements.

The win over Norwich was Liverpool's first of the season in the league and so they will be fully aware they cannot slip back to any more mistakes.

But they will be confident ahead of welcoming Stoke, having never lost at home to the Potters in the top flight in a record 49 previous meetings.

Last season's meeting was one of several forgettable 0-0 draws at Anfield which ultimately cost Kenny Dalglish his job, while Stoke also lost on Merseyside in the FA Cup.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis will therefore be desperate to try and break his club's hoodoo in Liverpool and they could aim to utilize some momentum.

A 2-0 win over Swansea City last weekend gave the club their first three points of the Premier League season after four draws and a defeat.

And so Pulis will be aiming to build on the result, which was earned with the help of two goals from in-form ex-Liverpool striker Peter Crouch.

Joe Cole (hamstring) and Jose Enrique (knee) could return to Liverpool's squad following injuries.

Midfielder Cole has been back in training and scored for Liverpool's Under 21s, while Rodgers has said Enrique will be assessed before the weekend.

Jonjo Shelvey will serve the second match of his three-game domestic ban following his red card against Manchester United.

Glenn Whelan had to be substituted with what looked like a hamstring problem against Swansea but the midfielder has not yet been definitely ruled out of facing Liverpool.

Charlie Adam hurt his shoulder last weekend but has been training and should be available against his former club, while Michael Owen will also hope to feature at his old stomping ground.

One Potters player who will not feature is defender Andy Wilkinson, who serves the third match of a three-game suspension.

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