Stoke City vs Liverpool. Premier League matchday 19 Preview

The game between the Premier League table neighbors Potters and the Reds proves one of the most interesting to watch. Stoke City have been touted as one of the meanest defenses in Europe by Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas after they held the Spurs to a 0-0 draw at the White Hart Lane. Stoke City will probably try and deliver yet another excellent defensive performance in their pursuit of either narrow win or goalless draw. This tactics proved an effective one as Stoke have won three and drawn another three out of their last six games.

However this match is notoriously difficult to predict, taking into account that Stoke City led by their skipper Ryan Shawcross have not lost at the Britannia Stadium this season, while Liverpool seem to be thriving and playing their best football of the season under Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers has improved Liverpool’s passing game, did best in removing some of the typical defensive mistakes and solved the selection problem by putting some of the young talented players in the first team. Liverpool fans have recalled their best days as Suarez, Gerrard, Škrtel were on fire as the Reds hummered Fulham 4-0.

Michael Owen has recovered after his hamstring injury and could make his first-team return in the game against his former side. Charlie Adam is a doubt as he has been granted a compassionate leave following the news about the death of his father.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers boasts clean bill of health and is unlikely to make any changes to his side. Young winger Raheem Sterling may return into the first team after being rested for the game against Fulham.

Probable line-ups:

Stoke City: Begovic; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Cameron; Etherington, Whelan, N’Zonzi, Shotton, Walters; Crouch.

Liverpool: Reina; José Enrique, Agger, Škrtel, Johnson; Downing, Allen, Gerard, Lucas, Sterling; Suarez.

Footballtop.com prediction: Stoke City 0-0 Liverpool