Ahead of the game: Stoke City

Liverpool and Stoke have an opportunity to set the early pace in the 2013/14 Premier League as the sides lift the lid on the new season, going head-to-head at Anfield in Saturday’s 12:45 kick-off. Stoke took four points from the Merseysiders last season, running out three-one winners in the teams’ last meeting on Boxing Day 2012 at the Britannia Stadium.

Liverpool will be hoping to banish a sorry trait which has seen them fail to win on the opening day of a Premier League season since 2008. Despite that slight burden, the reds will feel confident heading into the fixture having shown good pre-season form with individuals like Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and new signings Kolo Toure and Iago Aspas looking particularly impressive. Liverpool will also be heading into a season with a new number-one goalkeeper for the first time since Pepe Reina joined the club in 2005. The Spaniard has been replaced at Anfield by the talented Simon Mignolet, with the former heading to Napoli on a season-long loan.

Brendan Rodgers’ side concluded their pre-season schedule with a behind-closed-doors friendly against Newcastle on Tuesday at the club’s training base, Melwood. With a host of first-team players away on international duty, the fixture was organised primarily to ensure Daniel Sturridge and Daniel Agger were ready to face Stoke at the weekend, after the pair had missed parts of pre-season through injury. Sturridge in particular was touch and go for the red’s opening competitive game, having missed six of Liverpool’s eight summer friendlies. The England striker, though, played 45 minutes in the red’s penultimate warm-up game against Celtic and looked energetic and surprisingly sharp throughout. He was then handed a start, joined in the team by Daniel Agger, on Tuesday against Newcastle; Sturridge was obviously keen to prove his fitness in this game, scoring two goals and assisting another as he played 90 minutes and Liverpool won three-one. Agger, the reds’ new vice-captain also came through the game unscathed.

Stoke City head into the 2013/14 season under new management after the departure of Tony Pulis in May this year. He was replaced by fellow Welshman Mark Hughes, who had been redundant since being sacked by Queens Park Rangers in November 2012. Hughes has guided his new team to three wins, one draw and one defeat in pre-season, conceding just two goals in their five matches. It seems then, that despite a change at the top, Stoke’s renowned miserly defence has remained constant – but it remains to be seen whether Hughes can introduce that added creativity to the team which fans are yearning for. The potters look likely to play a 4-5-1 formation at Anfield, with Peter Crouch leading the line and Jonathan Walters wide-right, so Liverpool will have to persevere to split what will be a determined defence. Midfield destroyer Wilson Palacios also looks to be back in favour after the change of manager.

My line-up

For the moment, the back four pretty much picks itself. Although, as I explained in my season preview, I'd like to see an alternative to Jose Enrique brought in at left-back. A player more adept at retaining the ball and possessing more composure in the attacking third than the Spaniard would be ideal.

Further up the pitch, I'd like to see Coutinho given a central role. Brendan Rodgers has favoured a 4-3-3 in pre-season, with Joe Allen the most advanced of a midfield three and Coutinho lining up as a left-forward. Don't get me wrong, I think Allen will be an important player for us this season, but at home to Stoke we will most likely have the majority of possession; for this reason we must pack our team with penetrative, creative players to break down the away defence. Coutinho could orchestrate things from this position, running at Stoke's back-line and looking for through-ball opportunities.

The front three I've selected possess two things which will be key against Stoke: pace and unpredictability. Sturridge's explosive speed will push the away side back, leaving space for midfielders Gerrard and Coutinho to control proceedings in. The two wingers, both inverted, will look to come inside on their favoured feet, with Johnson and Enrique overlapping on either side.


View from the other side

Stoke fan @StokeCityFCFP  - “I think it will be a tough game for Stoke (especially with our limited attacking options atm). However, i dont see too many goals being scored in the game due to our generally solid defence. Steven Nzonzi could cause you problems (one of our key players) his passing, tackling and composure make him a solid player on his day. Score Prediction 1-1. Coutinho is a very dangerous player and im sure stoke fans will fear his darting runs and through balls in the game. Sturridge is also a big threat, his pace and finishing mean stoke need to be weary of him.”

Stoke fan @AngelaSmith_ - “It will be a different Stoke than in the past few seasons, more football, but scoring goals still rare for Stoke!”

One to watch

Peter Crouch - The football gods' favourite old trick: player scoring against his former team. Liverpool's lack of height could also prove a problem against the six-feet-seven Englishman.

Liverpool's last six

WLWWWW

Stoke's last six

DWWWLD

Odds

Liverpool - 4/9

Draw - 15/4

Stoke - 17/2

My prediction

Liverpool 2-0 Stoke City

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