Allen Hamilton
What: English Premier League
Who: Stoke City vs Liverpool
When: Saturday 10th September, at 15:00 UK Time
Where: Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, England
Transfer Deadline Day Boost
Stoke City may have barged their way into the Europa League last season by virtue of an FA Cup final appearance, and Tony Pulis’ team may not be considered in any way relegation candidates, but there has remained a nagging doubt at the Britannia Stadium, a worry that the club have not earned the status their efforts deserve. On transfer deadline day, that doubt was all but erased.
The arrival of Wilson Palacios, a top notch proven Premier League performer and a World Cup competitor, was reason enough to celebrate. But when Peter Crouch landed too, also from Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke knew they were mixing it with the "bigger" boys. Crouch, an England international and at 30 years old, at something like his peak, cost £12M and would not have moved north were he not persuaded that good times lie ahead at the Potters.
Stoke have had time to adjust to the signings of Palacios, Cameron Jerome (from Birmingham) and Crouch, but the international break arrived to deprive the club’s fans of a quick chance to see the new boys in action. The Potters will go into this one full of confidence, sporting a superb record here against Liverpool in recent years. And Crouch for one is confident.
"I mean, I look around our dressing room and we have some fantastic players in there as well", said the England man pointing out Stoke should not be scared of the Reds. "I know from being an opposing player that nobody enjoys coming here and playing against Stoke. It’s always an incredibly hard game to play in, so we have the belief that we can win the game."
The Feel-Good Factor
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish generated a feel-good factor almost as soon as he sat in the manager’s office at Anfield – and despite that being in January, the feeling persists. It has been helped of course, chiefly by Liverpool’s splashing of the cash in the summer transfer market combined with a good start to the season, one which included a win away at Arsenal.
Dalglish made the decision to add British steel to his midfield, signing Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson, all in the hopes of being better equipped to do well at places like Stoke. There should be no settling in needed by the new midfield signings – and all know how hard a visit to the Britannia Stadium is. Indeed, last season Liverpool under Roy Hodgson wilted here.
"It’s a really difficult place to go and play", said Dalglish. "Tony Pulis has done a fantastic job and we’ve got to go there in the right frame of mind. We know what we’re going to be up against, which isn’t a problem as far as I’m concerned. I’m not going to dictate to anybody or preach to anybody about how they should play. It’s their football club and Tony Pulis runs it brilliantly."
Recent form
Stoke City:
Norwich City 1-1 Stoke City (21/08; Premier League)
Stoke City 4-1 FC Thun (25/08; Europa League)
West Brom 0-1 Stoke City (28/08; Premier League)
Liverpool:
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool (20/08; Premier League)
Exeter City 1-3 Liverpool (24/08; League Cup)
Liverpool 3-1 Bolton Wanderers (27/08; Premier League)
Key absences
Stoke City: Rory Delap; Ricardo Fuller; Danny Higginbotham
Liverpool: Martin Kelly; Steven Gerrard
Players to watch
Stoke City – Peter Crouch: Stoke’s new signing could be a vital route to victory in this game and will have added motivation against his old club. Crouch was largely a success at Liverpool, leaving only in search of more regular first team football, the same reason he has landed from White Hart Lane here. The 30-year-old should be a worry for Liverpool’s defence and is keen to make his mark.
Liverpool – Charlie Adam: The Scottish international missed his country’s midweek game with an injury niggle, but is expected to be raring to go for this one. Adam has superb passing ability and a real hunger and desire which should see him ready to mix it with the best of Stoke’s midfield. With experience of these types of fixtures, Adam could be a key link to the Reds’ forward line.
Match Prediction
Any trip to Stoke is difficult and Tony Pulis’ side will certainly come into this one on a high. With over a week to plot the demise of Liverpool, Pulis will ensure no stone is left unturned.
Liverpool have a new found confidence though which makes them a very different proposition from the side which lost here last season, putting up little fight. Should Dalglish implement a quick pass and move philosophy, then the Reds could sneak a very difficult win. Stoke City 0-1 Liverpool.
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