STAR PREVIEW: Liverpool v Stoke City

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ice and straightforward with the win bet on Burnley last night although it always helps when you get two quick penalties in your favour. In fairness to Derby, they started the better side and I am sure the Rams will be involved at the business end of the season.

Liverpool are on the box tonight – just for a change!! They face Stoke in the second leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final with Liverpool holding a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg at the Britannia.

There’s only a point between these two sides in the Premier League and another close match looks likely with Liverpool probably more than content to sit on their lead. I can’t see there being many goals and certainly no repeat of the remarkable scorelines at the Britannia in 2014 and 2015 which saw an astonishing 15 goals from two games (see head to head stats below).

Stoke have failed to score in their last two league games and will be without the services of captain Ryan Shawcross tonight with a back injury.

Stoke have played Liverpool six times in the League Cup and only had one draw to show from their efforts.

Their manager Mark Hughes said ”We are going to really push for it. You always remember cup finals and semi-finals because of the excitement and the atmosphere and we want to make it a night to remember. Hopefully come 10pm on Tuesday we will be in the final of this competition for the first time in 40-odd years, and I will be reminding the players of that before kick-off.”

The Capital One Cup doesn’t have the status it once did – but Jurgen Klopp would certainly welcome some silverware from his first season.

Liverpool v Stoke City
Capital One Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg
19:45 Sky Sports 1 / Sky Sports 1 HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Jan 2016 CAPITAL ONE CUP Stoke 0-1 Liverpool
Aug 2015 PREMIER Stoke 0-1 Liverpool
May 2015 PREMIER Stoke 6-1 Liverpool
Nov 2014 PREMIER Liverpool 1-0 Stoke
Jan 2014 PREMIER Stoke 3-5 Liverpool
Aug 2013 PREMIER Liverpool 1-0 Stoke
Dec 2012 PREMIER Stoke 3-1 Liverpool
Oct 2012 PREMIER Liverpool 0-0 Stoke
Mar 2012 FA CUP Liverpool 2-1 Stoke
Jan 2012 PREMIER Liverpool 0-0 Stoke

Just a speculative bet tonight. A tight first half and then things opening up as Stoke will need to create and take chances which could leave a few doors open. I’m backing DRAW – LIVERPOOL at a top priced 7/2 with Star Sports.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-50 points)

BACK DRAW/LIVERPOOL for 10 points at around 7/2 with Star Sports

RETURN SINCE START OF WORLD CUP: PROFIT 5.49 POINTS

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