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2011-10-26 - Stoke City vs Liverpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English Carling Cup 4th Round
Wednesday 26 October 2011 - Kickoff 7:45pm
Stoke City
I have to say that I am beginning to wonder when all the games Stoke City have been playing of late will catch up with them. They are in the last 16 of the Carling Cup, have been playing well in the Europa League and are also performing well in the Premier League and the squad has a few injuries to contend with.
The Potters have a 2-2-0 record at home in the Premier League, scoring 4 goals and conceding 1, although they have played Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea at the Brittania Stadium this season. Stoke have won 4 games at home in the cup competitions they are involved in, although they did need penalties to see off Tottenham in the last round here.
There are signs that Stoke are finding it a little more difficult to deal with the extra fixtures they have been facing this season as they have now lost their last 3 League games following a European game, including a 3-1 loss at Arsenal at the weekend. Stoke are unbeaten in all 9 home games they have played this season, and they come into this one having won 3 in a row. The team have conceded just 3 goals at home in all competitions.
Jermaine Pennant is unlikely to play a part in this game having missed the game against Arsenal on Sunday. Danny Higginbotham is back in training and could play his first game since April, while Jonathan Woodgate is also back in the squad after missing 3 games through injury.
Liverpool
The real goal for Liverpool this season is reaching the top 4 and a place in the Champions League, but it is also clear that Kenny Dalglish wants to return a winning mentality to the club that have failed to win a trophy since the FA Cup win over West Ham in 2006. Judging from the teams he has picked, Dalglish has ambitions of winning this competition.
The team are on course to meet expectations, although it is clear that there are still inconsistencies in the team, while the defence has been looking a little vulnerable. Liverpool are 2-0-2 away from home in the League, scoring 4 goals and conceding 5, and they have also won 2 away games in the Carling Cup at Exeter and Brighton with strong line ups.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 5 games since losing 4-0 at Tottenham, although they have drawn their last two games, both 1-1, at Anfield. The Reds have won back to back away games since losing back to back away games at Stoke and Spurs.
Lucas is available after serving a suspension against Norwich, while Dan Agger is pushing for a starting berth after coming off the bench on Saturday. Kenny Dalglish has played a strong team in the previous two rounds of the Carling Cup, so I expect the same here.
Head to Head
Stoke beat Liverpool 1-0 here in September in a League game, meaning they have won consecutive home League games against their illustrious opponents.
Stoke are unbeaten in their 4 League games at home against Liverpool.
Prediction
Anyone who saw the earlier League meeting between the teams would be rightly confused as to how Liverpool failed to get something out of the game which they dominated for the most part.
That still doesn't really inspire me to pick the away team as Stoke are a really tough team to beat at the Brittania Stadium.
What has been the case for many of Stoke's games against the bigger teams at home is how close they have been and I expect this to be another tight encounter.
Interestingly, one or both of the teams have failed to score in 6 of their 7 Premier League meetings since Stoke returned to the top flight. That has occurred in 3 of the 4 games that have taken place at the Brittania Stadium and we could see something similar on Wednesday night.
Stoke have not conceded many home goals so far this season, including a 0-0 draw with Tottenham in the last round, while either Liverpool or their opponent has failed to score in all 4 Premier League away games they have played this season.
At odds of evens, I will play small stakes on that occurring again.
The Pick :
Stoke City 0-1 Liverpool
