Stoke City host Liverpool this Saturday at the Britannia Stadium, 17.30 GMT. That's 6.30pm Nigerian time.

Stoke City have had it rough this past few weeks, losing to Hartlepool in their FA Cup clash, and losing their last Premiership game to West Ham. Including the red card received by Ricardo Fuller for slapping team mate Andy Griffin on the pitch during that game
Stoke started strong this season, conquering some strong teams along the way, including Arsenal and giving United a rather tough time. They seem to have dipped in form of recent though.  .  .is it possible for them to find their mojo against Liverpool?

Liverpool still top the table, 3 points ahead of chasers Chelsea and 7 points ahead of United who still have 2 games in hand. A loss or a draw this weekend will mean losing their top spot if Chelsea secure a win at OT.
That doesn't seem likely at the moment though with players Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa all back from injury to boost the side in the final 18 league games of the season. Rafa Benitez is so confident of his side that he doesn't see any need buying any new players this January.
Captain Stevie G should be pumped up to give Stoke a stroke after his recent stay behind bars.

Liverpool will be playing away on Saturday, but that has never stopped them before. They are the favorites for this one. But then again, Stoke could be quite full of surprises right?

But a draw for the Reds and a win for the Blues would still leave Liverpool 1pt clear at the top, no?

Arbeloa won't play till the Everton game next week while Insua has been called up for Argentina's U20 squad (Big loss). Alonso MAY not be available as he recovers from that injury against Preston but with Lucas on fire, I don't think we need him against Stoke.

Stoke could be neutralized by the opposition pinning them in their own half and ensuring they don't win any throw-in's near the 18-yard box. I can only see a Red win  here.

Line-up should be:

                                                    REINA

CARRAGHER       AGGER/SKRTEL           HYPPIA (for aerial threat)    AURELIO


KUYT                    GERRARD/LUCAS                        MASCHERANO               RIERA

                                             KEANE/GERRARD          

                                                       TORRES

ynwa.


ps: Cristalz, you used the word, 'MOJO'. Do you think Stoke have a black charm they'd want to use against Liverpool? Could get them banned, you know.

i hope we beat stokes and chelsea and man utd get a draw,

btw slur alex ferguson has started his mind games. the old agbaya should better find somewhere to chill.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1710/manchester-united/2009/01/06/1044577/ferguson-manchester-united-will-punish-nervous-liverpool

You guy shouldn,t just think of any draw with stoke 3 is a must for liverpool.this years is our year.

Liverpool will definitely win Stroke City and will remain on top of the Premier league table.
Up Liverpool "u'll never walk alone"!

In the light of Benitez's comments against SAF. . . . i'm sincerely looking forward to some form of backlash tonight

STOKE should fucking nick a goal.

All these chances should be nicked FFS!!!
Liverpool look so flat.

GERRARD dives again!!!!
When would these refs book Stevie Meh for diving??

what the heck is wrong with stoke city ?

Wide shot. . .and it was so so close!

Won't it be totally hilarious for Liverpool to drop points after Rafa's tirade?

who cares ?

that was close

Cristalz:

Won't it be totally hilarious for Liverpool to drop points after Rafa's tirade?

Rafa Benitez puts the pressure back on themselves.

Hopefully, Gerrard would go to prison next month.
Alonso won't recover from his injury, Torres goes back to face the surgeon's knife for his constant hamstring.
This title is looking more n more like United's title.

Liverpool's FIFTH draw in EIGHT games??
Arsenal have a better chance than Liverpool winning the title.
Come on United. . . . . .Letz get a win against the Chavs and Wigan on wednesday.

~Sauron~:

Rafa Benitez puts the pressure back on themselves.

Hopefully, Gerrard would go to prison next month.
Alonso won't recover from his injury, Torres goes back to face the surgeon's knife for his constant hamstring.
This title is looking more n more like United's title.

Liverpool's FIFTH draw in EIGHT games??
Arsenal have a better chance than Liverpool winning the title.
Come on United. . . . . .Letz get a win against the Chavs and Wigan on wednesday.

LMAO

Dearie what kind of curse is that?

Game is so on now. . .this result will make tomorrow's clash all the more intense.

hakbab:

You guy shouldn,t just think of any draw with stoke 3 is a must for liverpool.this years is our year.

alvinjoe:

Liverpool will definitely win Stroke City and will remain on top of the Premier league table.
Up Liverpool  "u'll never walk alone"!

bgees:

i hope we beat stokes and chelsea and man utd get a draw,  

Cristalz:

LMAO
Dearie what kind of curse is that?

U didn't hear Gerrard was charged for GBH??
The case is now in Crown Court. . . . .If he is found guilty, he would spend at least 3 months in Prison.
Ordinarily, he should be in Prison now but as a big celeb in England, they let the tosser out on bail.

Game is so on now.  .  .this result will make tomorrow's clash all the more intense.

Survival of the illest.
I just hope the 2 managers won't play for a DRAW.
With Liverpool's draw. . . . .Scolari and Fergie would be happy with a point apiece.
However, Rooney-Berba-Ronaldo and Tevez might have other ideas.

Another draw!!!

We need to break this draw jinx o !!!!

[center]YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE [/center]

After watching this pathetic spectacle, Stoke is my new underdog team. They dealt with Arsenal like no other and now Liverpool.
The only thing that will make this weekend even better is us beating the crap out of Chelsea at SB.

Moonstone:

After watching this pathetic spectacle, Stoke is my new underdog team. They dealt with Arsenal like no other and now Liverpool.
The only thing that will make this weekend even better is us beating the crap out of Chelsea at SB.

Stoke are damn too crude i hope they get relegated

Don't be so sure you would beat Chelsea

Am highly disappointed in Rafa. Very poor tactics and for crying out loud we dont need Lucas in our first team. Rafa the foolish gaffer plays a lousy Lucas in a very vital position and thats why whenever Lucas plays badly, our performance is always below par. We need another player besides Alonso who can link up our midfield with our attack better than that sulky lucas and wtf was Kuyt doing alone upfront when Torres, keane and Babel are on bench, kuyt doesnt do well upfront but performs better on the right, Riera who was our best player on the pitch was hauled off instead of an inconfident Lucas. Rafa get a bloody playmaker if u want the league cup and demote dat boy lucas, El Zhar will even perform better than him. Bleep Lucas, Bleep Rafa, UP Liverpool. YNWA

colly:

Am highly disappointed in Rafa. Very poor tactics and for crying out loud we don't need Lucas in our first team. Rafa the foolish gaffer plays a lousy Lucas in a very vital position and thats why whenever Lucas plays badly, our performance is always below par. We need another player besides Alonso who can link up our midfield with our attack better than that sulky lucas and wtf was Kuyt doing alone upfront when Torres, keane and Babel are on bench, kuyt doesnt do well upfront but performs better on the right, Riera who was our best player on the pitch was hauled off instead of an inconfident Lucas. Rafa get a bloody playmaker if u want the league cup and demote that boy lucas, El Zhar will even perform better than him. Bleep Lucas, Bleep Rafa, UP Liverpool. YNWA

Would you have said these before the match?

Lucas has given been enough chances in the 1st team. Unfortunately he has only impressed in patches and he played very well against newcastle. I think Pleissis should be given more chances only that i fear he would be less creative. LUCAS NEEDS TO SIT ON THE BENCH FOR A LONG TIME. Maybe we should'nt have sold Danny Guthrie to newcastle.

But i think rafa was'nt spot on. Riera should have remained but benitez thought otherwise. Why not try playing AGGER IN THE MIDFIELD. He is technical and has good shots. Or we need another playmaker for back up? Maybe we should get busy this january.
Y. N. W. A.

All "U will never draw sorry walk alone faithfulls", una prayer 4 Man Utd don fail. Man u don flog Chelsea 3-0.

GET READY TO SURRENDER THAT TOP POSITION 4 THE OWNERS,

DID YOU HERE WHAT I JUST SAID

The owners? you mean Chelsea

A-40:

Stoke are damn too crude i hope they get relegated

Don't be so sure you would beat Chelsea

I need A to come back and swallow these words! . I love Stoke cos they usually stop the good teams with a draw.