Stoke are 9/1 to beat league leaders Liverpool at home

Stoke/Liverpool, Sat 5.30pm, Setanta Sp 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Stoke (9/1 with Bet365) were able to take a point against Liverpool at Anfield so will feel confident of causing them problems again on a pitch far greater suited to their style of play. Here are the key statistics about this weekend’s Saturday evening game:

THE BRITANNIA STADIUM
Only four clubs have taken more points at home this season than Stoke and the only teams who have beaten them there in the league are Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United, with Chelsea the only team to win their by more than one goal. Stoke’s defeats to Everton and Chelsea came one after the other so Liverpool will be hopeful of benefitting from the fact the Potters lost their last home game to Manchester United.

Stoke haven’t won any of their last three home games and when they last hosted Liverpool in the 2000-01 Carling Cup they were hammered 8-0. Liverpool have won seven and drawn two of their ten away league games this season, dropping just two points in away games outside of London.

STOKE’S POOR FORM
After pulling themselves away from the bottom three earlier this season, Stoke are back in the relegation zone after a run of six games without a win. As well as losing to Hartlepool in the FA Cup, Tony Pulis’ side have lost their last three league games. This is the first time they have suffered a run of three straight league defeats since April 2006.

LIVERPOOL AGAINST THE PACK
As we mentioned before, Stoke held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at Anfield earlier this season but there was only one team outside of the Big Four that the Reds failed to beat either at home or away last season. The only positive for Stoke is that last season it was newly-promoted Birmingham that Rafael Benitez’ side were unable to find a way past.

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Posted: January 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn |