Stoke City v Liverpool - Follow LIVE text commentary

16 January 2010 12:45
Stoke City v Liverpool

Follow every kick as Stoke City take on Liverpool at Britannia Stadium in the Premier League
on 16-Jan-2010, kick off time 12:45

Stoke City v Liverpool Live

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A goalless draw could be the most likely outcome at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday lunchtime when Stoke City entertain a crisis-torn Liverpool.

Last season both Premier League matches between the two teams ended in stalemates, the first on Merseyside in September and the second in Stoke just over 12 months ago.

There was a change to that record earlier this season though when the Reds thrashed Tony Pulis' side 4-0 at Anfield when Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Dirk Kuyt and David N'Gog were all on the scoresheet.

However, in recent days Liverpool's season has plumbed new depths after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Reading in a third round replay.

The 2-1 extra-time defeat on Wednesday has increased the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez, whose previous claims that a turbulent season could still be a success with FA Cup glory have now left him with egg all over his face.

To make matters worse for the Spaniard, Steven Gerrard (hamstring) and Torres (knee) both limped out of the action against the Royals and are rated extremely doubtful for the weekend, alongside midfielder Yossi Benayoun (rib).

Meanwhile, Stoke have an impressive home record - they have won five games already this season at the Britannia Stadium - and returned to form after a six-match winless streak with a 3-2 victory against Fulham last time out.

That result lifted Stoke back into the top half of the table, only three places behind Liverpool, who have already lost seven league games this term and are struggling to clinch a top-four spot.

Pulis is expected to be able to call on the services of Thomas Sorensen even though the Danish goalkeeper damaged a finger in the warm-up for the game against the Cottagers and had to be replaced by Steve Simonsen.

Tuncay is the only possible absentee as the Turk is struggling with a hamstring problem.

Benitez's team have struggled for goals away from Anfield this term and have already lost at the likes of Sunderland, Portsmouth, Fulham.

However, in their last away fixture they did produce one of their best displays of the season when they secured a last-gasp 1-0 victory at Aston Villa, a result that boosted hopes of a fifth successive top-four finish.

Benitez will definitely be without Glen Johnson though after the England international tore a medial ligament in his right knee during the Villa Park win.

Source: DSG