Liverpool v Stoke - Wed, 2 February, 8pm kick off

Jesus Wept

No match thread for this cracker yet??


Liverpool v Stoke


Barclays Premier League
Venue: Anfield
Date: Wednesday, 2 February Kick-off: 1945 GMT


TEAM NEWS
Liverpool's new signing Luis Suarez is expected to make his debut, but £35m recruit Andy Carroll will have to wait for his first appearance due to injury.
Jamie Carragher remains on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.
Stoke will again be without Danny Higginbotham due to his hamstring problem.
Defender Ryan Shawcross serves the final match of a two-game suspension following his sending off against Fulham.

Liverpool
Injured: Carragher (shoulder), Carroll (thigh)

Stoke
Suspended: Shawcross (one match)
Injured: Higginbotham (hamstring)



Match Preview:
It has been a quite bewildering month at Liverpool Football Club. The year began under a cloud with Roy Hodgson's ill-fated reign at Anfield coming to an unseemly end with defeats by Blackburn and Blackpool.

No one individual is bigger than this club. There never has been and never will be. (Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish)

Cue the dramatic return of the legendary 'king' Kenny Dalglish and an upturn in the club's fortunes. But just when the former Reds hero had placed a steady hand on the Anfield tiller, a week of unprecedented transfer chaos flipped the club upside down.
Few could have predicted a week ago that Fernando Torres, the darling of the Kop, would have moved to rivals Chelsea for £50m, let alone that the club would react by smashing the transfer record for a British player by signing the raw and unproven Newcastle striker Andy Carroll. Add in the arrival of Luis Suarez, who had only hours earlier arrived for a then club record fee, and you could forgive Wednesday's opponents Stoke for not knowing what to expect next.

Before the developments of the last few weeks the Potters would have fancied their chances of a first ever top-flight double over the Reds, especially considering how insipid Liverpool were when Stoke bullied them off the park in November.
But given how fired up the Anfield crowd will be on Wednesday, Tony Pulis must feel the odds have lengthened against his side ending their horror run of failing to muster a single victory in 47 top-flight visits to Anfield, dating back to 1894.

roryc

Its a sign of how far 'Pool have fallen when a game against Stoke is a cracker

Its an 20:00 kick off not 19:45.

amiable

20:00 kick off tonight

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/match/fixtures/first-team/liverpool-v-stoke-2010-9-9-15-00-00/next-match-preview

Jesus Wept

roryc wrote: »

Its a sign of how far 'Pool have fallen when a game against Stoke is a cracker

It's a sign of a much anticipated debut and top, top fans.

amiable wrote: »

20:00 kick off tonight

Santos Refined Landlady wrote: »

Its an 8 o'clock kick off not 19:45.

Had that originally and changed it because of the silly bbc blurb.

Dont be at yourself

Liverpool have the third best home form in the league (after United and Chelsea), which is hard to believe considering our season. I'm curious to see how we line-up in absence of Torres. Really looking forward to see Suarez, hopefully from the start.

My predicted line-up:

---

Reina
Kelly-Skrtel-Agger-Johnson

---

Poulsen

---

Gerrard-Mereiles
Kuyt

---

Suarez

---

Ngog

Wouldn't be surprised if Maxi or Cole got the nod ahead of Suarez. Maybe Jova up front? In Kenny We Trust!

ShamoBuc

Another 3 points will continue our best run in the league for along time. Stoke will of course provide tricky enough opponents but if we can continue our passing game and get our new boy on the ball to show us what he's got, 3 pts should be safe enough.

roryc

I thought Liverpool fans didnt like Poulsen...

mike65

/\ agree with that line up in terms of best 11 for tonight but a bit of me wonders if Suarez will start on the bench with Kuyt, Maxi and NGog upfront. This is the kind of game Carroll is made for.

MR NINE

Really hard to predict tonights line-up.

What I'd like to see:

---

Reina

---

Kelly----Agger

---

Skrtel

---

Johnson

---

Lucas

---

---

Meireles----Gerrard

---

Maxi

---

Cole

---

Suarez

---

I expect to see N'Gog start ahead of Suarez, and Kuyt ahead of one of Maxi or Cole. Really hope Suarez plays, can't wait to see him in action.

Dont be at yourself

roryc wrote: »

I thought Liverpool fans didnt like Poulsen...

He was muck under Roy, and the fans were on his back because he epitomised the decline of the club. He's been better under Kenny, where's he's been employed purely as a defensive midfielder, and has been applauded off the pitch when substituted recently. He'll never be a world beater, but he has a chance to show his worth and build on his recent form.

Conflicting rumours on Suarez. Local reporter Robert Buxton tweets that he will start. Collymore reckons he'll start on the bench and we'll play 3 at the back...

redzerdrog

from twitter

RBuxton_LFC News within Anfield is that Luis Suarez will start tonight for #LFC. Big pressure on the striker. Not played competitively since December 8.

Chardee MacDennis

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

He was muck under Roy, and the fans were on his back because he epitomised the decline of the club. He's been better under Kenny, where's he's been employed purely as a defensive midfielder, and has been applauded off the pitch when substituted recently. He'll never be a world beater, but he has a chance to show his worth and build on his recent form.

Conflicting rumours on Suarez. Local reporter Robert Buxton tweets that he will start. Collymore reckons he'll start on the bench and we'll play 3 at the back...

Id believe Buxton over collymore any day...

Tusky

Really dont think we will see Suarez played as a lone striker, as has been suggested in some formations. He will play as part of a front 2 or in the left attacking slot.

Dont be at yourself

From LFC.tv news editor:

JimmyRiceWriter: Several shocks in the Liverpool team tonight. Stay logged on to .tv for team news first.

Brace yourselves!

Yakult

1-0 to pool. Suarez to score

MR NINE

Tusky wrote: »

Really dont think we will see Suarez played as a lone striker, as has been suggested in some formations. He will play as part of a front 2 or in the left attacking slot.

Yeh I wasn't too sure to be honest, don't know a lot about him. If he's not a lone striker then I'd expect to see N'Gog up front and Suarez and Kuyt supporting

Jayob10

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

From LFC.tv news editor:



Brace yourselves!

heard whispers of 3 at the back tonight, Carra, Agger and Kelly/Skrtel

5starpool

Buxton now says:

Suarez on the bench it appears rather than starting. Kyrgiakos starting by all accounts too

All will become clear anyways soon enough.

K-9

LFC TV just tweeted there'll be a few shocks in the team tonight!

Dont be at yourself

Jayob10 wrote: »

heard whispers of 3 at the back tonight, Carra, Agger and Kelly/Skrtel

OK, how's this:

---

Reina

---

Skrtl-Krygiaokos-Agger
Johnson

---

Aurelio

---

Poulson-Mereiles

---

Gerrard

---

Kuyt--Suarez

This brings back memories of Fantasy Rafa!

That_Guy

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

From LFC.tv news editor:



Brace yourselves!

Is Dalglish starting?

Jayob10

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

OK, how's this:

---

Reina

---

Skrtl-Krygiaokos-Agger
Johnson

---

Aurelio

---

Poulson-Mereiles

---

Gerrard

---

Kuyt--Suarez

This brings back memories of Fantasy Rafa!

Hearing Suarez is on the bench and Soto will start

K-9

Jayob10 wrote: »

heard whispers of 3 at the back tonight, Carra, Agger and Kelly/Skrtel

I'd read Carra was supposed to be fit yesterday. Kyriakos I'd say will start, needed against Stoke.

Spearing maybe?

5starpool

Hmmmm

The Liverpool team is: Reina, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Agger, Kelly, Johnson, Lucas, Aurelio, Gerrard, Meireles, Kuyt. Subs: Gulacsi, Carragher, Poulsen, Shelvey, Suarez, Maxi, Ngog.

redzerdrog

RBuxton_LFC Suarez on the bench it appears rather than starting. Kyrgiakos starting by all accounts too #LFC #SCFC

Headshot

You can probably understand why suarez won't start

stumpypeeps

Jayob10 wrote: »

heard whispers of 3 at the back tonight, Carra, Agger and Kelly/Skrtel

Yeah 3 at the back.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/suarez-on-bench-listen-live

Dont be at yourself

Luis Suarez will have to come off the bench if he is to make his Liverpool debut against Stoke tonight. You can listen live online from 7.55pm GMT.

Dirk Kuyt starts up front, while Fabio Aurelio will play in central midfield. Jamie Carragher is back on the bench after a long injury lay-off with a dislocated shoulder.

The Liverpool team is: Reina, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Agger, Kelly, Johnson, Lucas, Aurelio, Gerrard, Meireles, Kuyt. Subs: Gulacsi, Carragher, Poulsen, Shelvey, Suarez, Maxi, Ngog.

From the official site.

K-9

Kelly and Johnson as wing backs then?

Aurelio left midfield?

Glico Man

That_Guy wrote: »

Is Dalglish starting?

5starpool wrote: »

Hmmmm

The Liverpool team is: Reina, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Agger, Kelly, Johnson, Lucas, Aurelio, Gerrard, Meireles, Kuyt. Subs: Gulacsi, Carragher, Poulsen, Shelvey, Suarez, Maxi, Ngog.

One of them is :P

Odd team, Kelly and Glen as wingbacks by the looks of that team

Pyjamarama

WTF is that team... random...

whatawaster

That's a horrid team on paper

Jayob10

K-9 wrote: »

I'd read Carra was supposed to be fit yesterday. Kyriakos I'd say will start, needed against Stoke.

Spearing maybe?

Here we go:

Reina

Kelly
Soto
Skrtel
Agger

Johnson
Gerrard
Lucas
Meireles
Aurelio

Kuyt

Agger left full, with GJ and Aurelio advanced

mike65

---

Reina,
Kelly-Skrtel-Kyrgiakos-Aurelio

---

Lucas-Agger
Johnson, Gerrard, Meireles

---

Kuyt.

Maybe?

Dont be at yourself

5-3-2 is the consensus.

---

Reina
Kelly-Skrtel-Soto-Agger-Johnson
----Gerrard-Lucas-Aurelio

---

Mereiles

---

Kuyt

...or some variation. Presumably in part to counter Stoke's threat from set-pieces.

missingtime

mike65 wrote: »

---

Reina,
Kelly-Kyrgiakos-Skrtel-Aurelio

---

Lucas-Agger
Johnson, Gerrard, Meireles

---

Kuyt.

Maybe?

Been suggesting this for years!!

quarryman

This on TV anywhere? Looks like Sky are showing Carroll-less-Newcastle v Fulham.

IvySlayer

If Ryan Shawcross was starting, maybe Stoke would have a hope.

Chucky the tree

Reina
Kelly-Kerri-Skrtel-Agger
Johnson-Gerrard-Lucas-Aurelio

---

Meireles

---

Kuyt

?

stumpypeeps

K-9 wrote: »

Kelly and Johnson as wing backs then?

Aurelio left midfield?

I think it might look a little something like this.

---

Reina

--Skrtel--Krygiakos--Agger--
Kelly

---

Johnson

---

Gerrard--Lucas--Aurelio---

---

Meireles

---

Kuyt

Interesting.

mike65

Pity I won't be watching this, it'll either be mad/amazing in a good way or just comical.

MR NINE

Really strange line-up. I have a feeling this is gonna be a dull dull game

ShamoBuc

If every pool fan posted what they thought the team could be - I seriously doubt if any would have selected that one! Strange.... time will tell if it is good enough for 3 pts - trust the manager I suppose, although if woy picked that team I'm sure we'd be giving out, but the performance will I'm sure be alot better under KK !!

Jayob10

---

Reina

Kelly----Skrtel

---

Soto

---

Agger

---

Lucas

---

Gerrard

Johnson--Meireles----Aurelio

---

Kuyt

4 centre backs as a flat back four to combat their direct approach, with Johnson and Aurelio providing width in more advanced roles

alibabba

is predicting 2-0 win for the Pool. With Kyut to get at least one

mada999

missingtime wrote: »

Been suggesting this for years!!

i've been flirting with this idea also..

mike65

Wing backs! Clearly another Roy is whispering in Kennys ear!

Stevecw

That's a weird selection, hard to make sense of it. Too many defensive players starting for a home game I think anyway.

Hope I'm wrong but this could be a 0-0.

That_Guy

quarryman wrote: »

This on TV anywhere? Looks like Sky are showing Carroll-less-Newcastle v Fulham.

Meh. We've been without him in our last four. No change anyway.

That team looks kinda strange actually. Kuyt lone striker?

billymitchell

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Reina
Kelly-Kerri-Skrtel-Agger
Johnson-Gerrard-Lucas-Aurelio

---

Meireles

---

Kuyt

?

i like the look of this team with those players. Still though, strange selection