Stoke City vs Liverpool. Premier League.
Bet365 StadiumAttendance29,423.
Wednesday 29 November 2017 19:02, UK
Liverpool will look to put pressure on their top-four rivals with a positive result against Stoke City on Wednesday (kick-off 8pm).
Liverpool's three-match winning run was halted on Saturday by Chelsea as Willian equalised late on at Anfield.
Despite getting thrashed 6-1 at the end of the 2014/15 season, Liverpool have won five of the last six meetings with Stoke, who lost to a dramatic Mamadou Sakho goal against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Liverpool forwards Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are set to return for the trip to Stoke after being rested for Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Daniel Sturridge, their two replacements at the weekend, look most likely to miss out while Georginio Wijnaldum could come back into midfield at the expense of James Milner.
Emre Can has recovered from a muscular injury and will rejoin the squad but a late decision will be made on defender Dejan Lovren.
Stoke's Ramadan Sobhi is expected to be fit for the Premier League clash.
The winger sustained a knock to his ankle in Saturday's 2-1 loss at Crystal Palace, but boss Mark Hughes has said he should be fine to be involved when Liverpool visit the bet365 Stadium.
Hughes has also said Saido Berahino, who was left out of the matchday 18 at the weekend, is in his thoughts for this contest. Geoff Cameron (concussion) and Jack Butland (finger) remain sidelined.
Stoke have lost seven of their last eight games against Liverpool in the Premier League, with their only win in this run coming on the final day of the 2014-15 season, as the Potters won 6-1 at the bet365 Stadium.
Liverpool have won four of their last five away games in all competitions against Stoke, including each of the last three.
Stoke City's 13-point tally this season is their joint-lowest after 13 games of a Premier League season, level with 2013-14 (13), but this is the highest tally of goals that they have conceded at this stage of a PL campaign (26).
Liverpool's 23-point tally this season is seven points lower than they had after 13 games in 2016-17 (30).
Liverpool's last nine Premier League victories have all been against teams starting that day in the bottom half of the league - in their first 13 games this season they've faced seven teams starting that day in the bottom half (W6 D1 L0) and six teams in the top half (W0 D4 L2).
Mark Hughes has lost 11 of his last 16 Premier League meetings with Liverpool (W2 D3), and has only lost more times against Chelsea (16) than he has against Liverpool (13).
Xherdan Shaqiri has had a hand in six goals in his last six Premier League games for Stoke City (two goals, four assists).
During their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday, Shaqiri netted his 10th goal in the Premier League and the seventh from outside the box (70 per cent) - only five players have scored a higher percentage of their goals in the competition from outside the area (minimum 10 goals).
Sturridge has scored four and assisted one more in his five Premier League appearances against Stoke for Liverpool.
Philippe Coutinho has scored in each of his last two Premier League games against Stoke. He's only scored in three consecutive appearances versus a single team in the competition once before (against QPR).
Mohamed Salah scored his 10th league goal for Liverpool in his 13th game for them during their 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday - no player scored more in their first 13 Premier League appearances for the club (level with Sturridge).
I think I would play Peter Crouch in this game as every set play, Liverpool are all over the place. But going forward, they are good. I do not go against Stoke too often at home, but I think Liverpool will win this game 3-1.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
