KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Time to focus on Stoke

This game against Stoke at home tomorrow will be vital for our quest for a top 4 finish. How do you guys and gal see it panning out? I think it will be a real test for our defenders, particularly from set play and we will have to be at our best to keep the headers out. No silly fouls in our third please! my selection would be;

Renia

Kelly Skertl Agger Enrique

Johnson Henderson Gerrard Downing

Bellamy Carroll

Subs; the usual list

All the games now are important to finish in the top 4! The quality in the other teams have improved!

We can't go toe to toe in the heading department. Maybe in defence as Skrtel and Agger can cope with that. But Carroll with the form he is in and his confidence, this kind of game won't help. He really needs to get his head into the game now!

Plus with Downing? I don't know. I think Maxi would be a better bet as then we can play quicker to the feet with him around! In the last 20 mins bring on Downing with his speed and maybe he can get a decent cross in for Carroll to score!!!

Maxi ahead of Downing. Henderson to play the holding player now Spearing is injured! Play to his strengths!

A lot depends on whether or not Stevie and Bellamy are able to start the match. If not then I say we structure up very organised and try to go for big Andy in the box. If they are both fit then maybe include Maxi

2-0, and this also marks the halfway stage of Luis' ban too!

2-0 LFC. hendo has to play in the middle! i'd also give carroll a start, he'll help with set pieces at both ends.

cant see bellamy playing and can see adam playing instead of spearing and johnson back at right back .

Yeah Kenny will probably go with your choice there Faz, However I would prefer Henderson to Adam in the centre since Spearing isn't available. I selected Bellamy to start as I think his pace and craft will work well against a rather porous Stoke defense. In any case I predict a 2 - 1 hard fought win, providing we defend well on set play.

stoke will do what they do well so liverpool will have to be on decent form to beat them .

Agree again Faz, though our confidence should be high after our win away to City, but yes Stoke are something of a battering ram and you don't want them in or around your box, thats for sure. We need to try and play the game in their half and avoid corners and free kicks anywhere in our half. However we are stronger in all departments, except perhaps attack, so we should win, but no walkover!

Forget AC starting except to combat their aerial threat. We need to be quick and fast with ball on the deck...that should do the trick