Liverpool will be looking to avoid defeat when they face Stoke City in the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at Anfield Road on Tuesday. The Reds have built a 1-0 advantage after the first leg, thanks to a goal from Jordon Ibe at the Britannia Stadium. Earlier this season Liverpool managed an identical result at Stoke, 1-0 with Philippe Coutinho on the score sheet. Stoke have won just one of the previous six matches against Liverpool, but that win was a memorable 6-1 last season.
Liverpool will be full of confidence after last weekend's spectacular 5-4 victory at Norwich City, at the end of an unpredictable thriller. Roberto Firmino scored two goals and also provided an assist, so manager Jurgen Klopp will probably choose to give him a deserved rest, thus allowing Christian Benteke to be in the starting eleven. Joe Gomez, Danny Ings, Divock Origi, Jordan Rossiter, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Sturridge remain sidelined for Liverpool.
After three matches without defeat in all competitions, Stoke City were pegged back by Premier League leaders Leicester City last weekend, the Foxes comfortably won 3-0. Geoff Cameron and Bojan did not play in that match, but they should be back on the pitch on Tuesday. Ryan Shawcross and Marko Arnautovic also missed out last weekend but manager Mark Hughes is hoping to have them fit in time for the Capital One Cup clash.
Probable line-ups:
Liverpool: Mignolet - Flanagan, Toure, Sakho, Moreno - Can, Leiva, Allen - Ibe, Lallana, Benteke
Stoke: Butland - Johnson, Wilson, Wollscheid, Pieters - Cameron, Whelan - Shaqiri, Afellay, Arnautovic - Bojan
My prediction: 1-1 draw.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Liverpool win - 1.80 Draw - 3.70 Stoke win - 5.00
sharpe
8 years ago
It was one more test for the Liverpool supporters nerves. Stoke lead the game 1-0 in regular and after the extra-time so the Reds needed a penalties to progress. Every win come the hard way for them not only this season so I think fans will appreciate that the team reach the final even not in the most convincing way. Tough...
It was one more test for the Liverpool supporters nerves. Stoke lead the game 1-0 in regular and after the extra-time so the Reds needed a penalties to progress. Every win come the hard way for them not only this season so I think fans will appreciate that the team reach the final even not in the most convincing way. Tough luck for the visitors.
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ne0h 8 years ago
Liverpool are 7th in the Premiership with 34 points, winning their last match played 4-5 away against Norwich. Stoke are 9th in the Premiership with 33 points losing their last match played 3-0 away against Leicester. Both teams have been inconsistent , with Liverpool winning 4 drawing 4 and losing 3 if their 11 home league...
Liverpool are 7th in the Premiership with 34 points, winning their last match played 4-5 away against Norwich. Stoke are 9th in the Premiership with 33 points losing their last match played 3-0 away against Leicester. Both teams have been inconsistent , with Liverpool winning 4 drawing 4 and losing 3 if their 11 home league games played, and Stoke winning 4 drawing 4 and losing 4 of their 12 league away games played. In the first leg of this League Cup semi-final it was not a very good match, Stoke had 56% possession of play and double the amount of shots on target , however still lost by a single goal, scored in the first half by Liverpool. Liverpool have beat Stoke now twice 0-1 away, and won this fixture also 1-0 last time played. It's a great chance for Klopp to get into a final and save what's left of the season which consisted of mad celebration against mid table teams.
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