Stoke City vs. Liverpool - Match Preview

Liverpool Football Club will know all too well. With new owners, changes in management, signings and departures, there has been dramatic and much needed change at the club. Going into their fourth Premier League fixture this time last season, Liverpool had started bleakly, managing a point in their opening fixture at home to Arsenal, letting the three points slip from their grasps when Pepe Reina fumbled the ball into his own net on the 90 minute mark, a sign of things to come. The Reds then found themselves on the receiving end of a 3-0 battering from a Manchester City team with a new lease of life and expensive flare, something Roy Hodgson€™s men were evidently lacking. A goal from a certain Fernando Torres helped Liverpool to squeeze past West Brom in an unconvincing win, before a bore draw in their fourth game with Birmingham City marked the beginning of a frustrating era for the club. Liverpool went on to be without a win until the end of October, when they rediscovered a glimpse of form against Blackburn. It was a turbulent time for the club with backroom issues perhaps causing unrest amongst the camp. However, there was to be a saving grace when Fenway Sports Group (FSG) finally came in as new owners, looking to move the club in the right direction and willing to back the Reds in the transfer market, implementing change. Hodgson€™s unsuccessful and short reign was to end in January 2011 and the one man the fans were calling for, Kenny Dalglish, replaced him. True to their word, FSG were quick to show dominance in the January transfer window by signing Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez with the £50million raised from the sale of a sulky Fernando Torres. The appointment of Dalglish has proven to be successful on the pitch, in the dressing room and with the fans, as King Kenny took a struggling Liverpool from the bottom half of the Premier League to a 6th place finish last season. The summer transfer market saw Dalglish clear his team of the dead wood accumulated over the years, with the likes of Paul Konchesky, David N€™gog, Milan Jovanovic, Christian Poulsen and an unimpressive Joe Cole, all leaving the club. Perhaps a shock departure was Raul Meireles€™s last minute transfer to Chelsea. The seasoned Portugese midfielder has joined up with his former boss at Porto, Andre Villas-Boas and his transfer along with Cole€™s loan move to French champions Lille, frees up room in what was getting to be a crowded midfield. Along with the departures, Dalglish strengthened his squad with no less than seven summer signings. Big money was spent on quality Premier League players, with the likes of Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson making up a British trio of signings, with Craig Bellamy re-joining as a last minute deadline day transfer. Jose Enrique was brought in from Newcastle to permanently fill the left back position, experienced goalkeeper Doni will provide excellent back up for Reina and a bright young defensive talent in Uruguayan Sebastian Coates, completed the haul. The Reds have accumulated seven points from their first three games, with a draw against Sunderland and two convincing wins against Arsenal and Bolton and have shown they will once again be a force this season. The club€™s main aim will be to finish in the top four and qualify for Champions League football and with only domestic football to concentrate on, it would be hard to bet against them achieving their goal. Dalglish has added real depth to his squad and has evidently put his own stamp on the side, with Liverpool once again playing attractive, attacking football. Their next opponents, Stoke City, will not be a pushover, as they too have been busy in the transfer market, revamping their side and continuing to live up to their established Premier League status. Tony Pulis has brought in five strong players in Cameron Jerome, Matthew Upson, Jonathon Woodgate and Tottenham duo, Peter Crouch and Wilson Palacios. The pedigree of these signings show real intent from Stoke€™s perspective, as they look to bolster their squad for their season in the Europa League. The Potters will have the home advantage on Saturday and the electric atmosphere of the Britannia Stadium will as always provide the 12th man for Pulis€™s men. The 6ft 7€ tall Crouch will be relishing the opportunity to score against his former employers on his first game for his new club and Palacios will also be keen to impress on his debut. Both sides have started their campaigns unbeaten, with Stoke drawing against Chelsea and Norwich, and picking up their first win of the season against West Brom away from home. It would be hard to predict the line-up Pulis has in mind with his new acquisitions, with Jonathon Walters proving a key player for the Potters, perhaps he€™ll move back to sit behind Crouch and Kenwyne Jones with Whitehead moving to the bench. Palacios may well come in for Marc Wilson to provide extra steel to the midfield. Mamady Sidibe, Ricardo Fuller and Rory Delap will all miss out due to injuries. The visitors are still without their captain, Steven Gerrard, who is close to a full return after being out since March with a groin injury. Charlie Adam picked up a hip injury whilst on international duty for Scotland but should be fit to start, however Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly remain doubtful. Craig Bellamy will surely be amongst the substitutes and in line for a second Liverpool debut, whilst youngster Sebastian Coates could also make the bench. Striker Andy Carroll came under some criticism from England boss Fabio Capello about his lifestyle and fitness, although supported by Kenny Dalglish on Thursday, the powerful forward will be looking to prove his club boss right and silence his critics. Stoke came out 2-0 victors in this tie at the Britannia last season, however Liverpool won 2-0 in their home game at Anfield. With both clubs looking to maintain their unbeaten run and fresh with new talent, Saturday€™s 3 O€™clock fixture will be certain to entertain. Predicted line-ups: Stoke City: 1 Begovic, 4 Huth, 17 Shawcross, 39 Woodgate, 6 Whelan, 40 Palacios, 16 Pennant, 26 Etherington, 19 Walters, 9 Jones, 25 CrouchSubs: 29 Sorensen, 5 Collins, 20 Upson, 28 Wilkinson, 18 Whitehead, 12 Wilson, 33 Jerome Liverpool: 25 Reina, 3 Enrique, 5 Agger, 23 Carragher, 37 Skrtel, 21 Lucas, 26 Adam, 14 Henderson, 19 Downing,18 Kuyt, 7 Suarez, Subs: 32 Doni, 16 Coates, 49 Robinson, 11 Maxi, 20 Spearing, 9 Carroll, 39 Bellamy Stoke City vs. Liverpool, Saturday 10th September 2011, 3pm Kick Off @ The Britannia Stadium.