Stoke City manager is on the verge of becoming the seventh Premier League manager to lose his job this season should his side continue performing dismally. The Potters went down 2-1 at Crystal Palace are now placed fifteenth in the Premier League log. Stoke City could sink into the drop zone if they lose to Liverpool on Wednesday.
Liverpool couldn't hang on to their slim lead at the weekend as the Reds allowed Chelsea to grab an equalizer with only five minutes of regulation left thus ensuring that the two English giants shared the spoils. The Reds are aware that a win at Stoke could see them tie in points with Chelsea on Wednesday.
Liverpool has drawn in two consecutive matches in different competitions.
Match facts
- The last seven meetings between the two sides have seen Liverpool emerge as winners on six occasions with Stoke City winning the remaining match. In fact, Liverpool is undefeated against Stoke City in the last six matches in all competitions.
- The match will bring Liverpool fans the memory of the Potters humiliating the Reds in Steven Gerrard's final game in Liverpool shirt. Stoke City thumped Liverpool 6-1 in May of 2015, but Liverpool has moved on from that shock by managing to beat Stoke City in three consecutive league trips.
- Stoke City has just managed a single victory in their last six Premier League matches. Two games ended in draws with Stoke City losing the remaining three matches.
- Stoke City midfielder Darren Fletcher who previously represented Manchester United will be making 105 consecutive appearances in Premier League.
- Mark Hughes has only won two out of the sixteen Premier League matches that he has faced Liverpool as a manager. However, he has lost a massive eleven league matches in that run.
- Liverpool is undefeated in their last four Premier League matches with the Reds winning three and just drawing in one.
- The Reds have displayed poor defense while playing away from with Liverpool conceding more goals in their league outing this term. In fact, out of the eighteen Premier League goals that Liverpool has conceded in the ongoing league, sixteen of them have come when Liverpool isn’t playing at Anfield.
- In the previous season, Liverpool had thirty points after thirteen Premier League matches, but this season the Red are seven points fewer than they had the last term at the same stage of the league. In fact, Liverpool was second in the league standings after thirteen matches last season.
Team news
Steve Ireland and Jack Butland are automatic absentees for the contest due to injuries while Glen Johnson could fail to face off with his former employer due to unfitness.
Geoff Cameron remains doubtful for the match.
Mark Hughes will assess whom to place at the center of his defense between Bruno Indi Martins and Ryan Shawcross but he can equally opt to play them both. Peter Crouch is available and will be contesting for a position with Jesse to face his former club.
Adam Bogdan and Nathaniel Clyne are out of the trip to Bet365 Stadium while Emre Can and Dejan Lovren are both doubtful to take part in the match.
Jurgen Klopp could start with Loris Karius in between the sticks while Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane could make a comeback into the squad after missing out in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea at the weekend.
Predictions
Stoke City looks weak with the Potters even losing to the rock-bottom placed team, Crystal Palace, last weekend.
Liverpool could get another an easy away win few weeks after handing West Ham United a 4-1 defeat the last time the Reds traveled. Philippe Coutinho, who has scored in the past two league games against Stoke City is one of the likely scorers in the match that may see Liverpool overtake Tottenham Hotspurs in the league standings.
Full-time prediction: Stoke City 1-4 Liverpool
