Liverpool – Stoke Prediction & Picks (28.04.2018)

Liverpool and Stoke City meet at Anfield, in a match for the 36 th round of the Premier League. Liverpool won out (0-3) the last time they met in this edition of the league, on 11-29-2017. The history of direct confrontations played in this stadium is favorable to the home team, which in the last 5 matches won 4 and lost 1. Indeed, the last time these two teams played a match in this stadium, on 27-12- 2016, for the Premier League, Liverpool won by (4-1). A. Lallana (34 ‘), Roberto Firmino (44’), G. Imbula (59 ‘Autogolo) and D. Sturridge (70’) scored the goals for Liverpool, and J. Walters (12 ‘), for Stoke City. The Stoke City presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor, so in this game the home factor may be decisive.

Liverpool:

After 20 wins, 11 draws and 4 losses, the home team is currently in the 3rd position, with 71 points won. In the penultimate match, they won in a home match against Bournemouth, by (3-0). In the last match, they tied in an away match against West Bromwich Albion, by (2-2). This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 9 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses in away matches, with 37 goals scored and 15 conceded; against 10 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss at their stadium, with 40 goals scored and 14 conceded. The team comes to this match after a home win against Roma by (5-2).

For this competition, he does not lose in his stadium 17 games ago. In their home league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 1-0 (6 out of 17 matches). Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 35 matches in the competition, he suffered the first goal 8 times and only managed 2 comebacks. There is 1 period that stands out in the last 17 home matches for this competition: they have suffered 6 of their 10 goals between minutes (76’-90 ‘).

Liverpool come into this game with a huge victory over Roma, 5-2, in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. On the last day of the Premier League, the home team drew two goals against West Bromwich. In this clash with Stoke, one of the last champions of the championship, coach Jürgen Klopp must keep the team in 4-3-3, privileging possession of the ball and organized attacks through the flanks. On the other hand, Mohamed Salah is the best finisher of Liverpool in the championship, with 31 goals scored. For this game the German coach can not count on Lallana, Emre Can, Bogdán and Matio, all injured.

Stoke City:

After 6 wins, 11 draws and 18 losses, the away team is currently in the 19 th position of the league, with 29 points won. In the penultimate match, they tied in a match against West Ham United, by (1-1). In the last match, they tied with Burnley at home (1-1), after in the previous match they tied it in a match against West Ham United, by (1-1). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 1 win, 5 draws and 9 losses in away matches; against 4 wins, 4 draws and 7 losses at their stadium. For the league, Stoke City won 4 points out of 30 possible points, after 4 draws and 6 losses in the last 10 home matches.

For this competition, they have not won any of the last 12 away matches. In their away league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 0-0 (6 out of 18 matches). They have not been very strong defensively, since they have suffered goals in 9 of the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 35 matches in this tournament, they suffered the first goal 21 times and only managed 1 comeback.

The Stoke City comes to this game with a tie to a ball against Burnley, thus adding the eleventh consecutive match without beating the English championship. The situation of visitors is increasingly complicated and currently occupies the descent zone. In this away game, coach Paul Lambert must maintain the 4-4-2, with Diouf and Crouch being the most advanced players on the team. On the other hand, the Swiss Xherdan Shaqiri is the best marker of Stoke City, with 7 goals scored. For this game the coach can not count on the injured Lee Grant.