On April eighth, Stoke City host Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp’s side looks to regain their momentum and push into the Champions League.
Stoke City find themselves in mid-table mediocrity with seven matches still to play this season. They’re essentially safe from relegation, but no where near qualifying Europe next season. The mindset that the season is over may have already set in on the squad, as they have won none of their last four matches and scored only one goal in those matches. You’d probably get pretty decent odds with 12bet คาสิโน of Stoke scoring the first goal tomorrow evening. Liverpool are vulnerable away from home, but Stoke will have to pick up their performances to have any success.
Liverpool will be disappointed after a late equalizer from Josh King led to the Reds dropping more points against a bottom half side. Â Though they usually drop points away from home, the draw against Bournemouth followed the pattern of dropping points against teams Liverpool “should beat” that has plagued Klopp’s side all season. Â Manchester City’s loss to Chelsea keeps the Reds in third, but they will fall out of the top four if Arenal and City win their games in hand. Â While they are still favourites to finish in the top four, Liverpool can’t afford to drop too many more points in these kinds of games.
Team News
Stoke’s side could look very different, depending on the results of some key fitness tests. Â Jon Walters, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Ramadan Sobhi are all doubts to pass fit against Liverpool, according to Physioroom.com. Â On top of them, both Jack Butland and Stephen Ireland are out with long term injuries.
Liverpool are dealing with some serious fitness issues. Â Star man Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, and Jordan Henderson are all expected to miss out, according to Physioroom.com, and Phillipe Coutinho is a doubt for the match after being substituted due to illness against Bournemouth.
Key Players
Stoke City: Marko Arnautovic
Stoke have struggled for goals all season.  They signed Wilfried Bony over the summer hoping he’d solve their lack of goals problem, but he has had a miserable spell at the bet365 Stadium. With Bony failing, Marko Arnautovic has been one of the players attempting to fill the role of goal scorer for Stoke.  His five league goals put him second on the team behind only Joe Allen.  The Austrian also scored the only two goals in Stoke’s last victory over Middlesborough.  Arnautovic is inconsistent, but he always comes up with  few moments of magic a season.
Liverpool: Divok Origi
With the injury to Sadio Mane, Divok Origi has come into the team and has scored two goals in his 124 minutes on the pitch. Â The Belgian striker has not played much this season, but he has produced when he has played with a goal or assist every 112 minutes. Â Liverpool have been criticized for their lack of depth this season, but this is Origi’s chance to prove that Liverpool have more than just a first 11.
Prediction
While Liverpool have struggled away from home, Stoke have struggled to beat the Reds, with only two wins in their last 10 league meetings. Â Liverpool may find it difficult, but they should still be able to squeeze out a win.
