Liverpool 0-0 Stoke was the score 11 months ago as Stoke got their first away point in their return to the top division….it was also the most uncomfortable match I have ever, ever watched…

From the moment Gerrard’s effort was disallowed, it seemed a matter of when and not if Liverpool would score..and this was in the 1st minute; what followed for the next 93 minutes or so was a dogged and spirited display from a wall of Yellow warriors as well as a near on coronary for yours truly.

I simply took the game one step at a time, as I imagine the Stoke players did, if we can make it to 15 mins, we can make it to 30, if we can make it to 30mins etc… I truly didn’t believe we could hang on until the 85th minute, when I had a moment of clarity and optimism that we might just pull off one of the results of the season – the result on that day and indeed the return leg at the Britannia denied Liverpool 4 points, the same number of points they went on to lose the Championship by, so given that fact, there will no doubt be some points to prove tonight, especially as only a week into the new season they already trail the rest of the Big Four by 3 points.

Stoke will no doubt have been working on a gameplan to frustrate their more illustrious opponents once again, hoping to get into half time at 0-0 with a more and more nervous number of Koppites who might start groaning and getting into the player’s heads as they desperately try and score. The line up tonight will all know their roles, but I feel it could be a mis-match of a team given that we have a much more winnable game against Birmingham to prepare for on Saturday in this 3 game week. I expect to see the return of Whelan, though the temptation to leave Rory and his throw-in in the side will be more and more now that Skrtel is said to be out of action with a cracked jaw and is set to be deputised by the unknown and untried Ayala at centre half.

I would also expect to see Etherington given another chance to impress after a less than convincing game against Burnley; given that we have no Sidibe or Fuller, he will provide a vital outlet to take pressure off the defence as they will no doubt once more have to suffer wave after wave of attack . I also expect to see Kitson given at least an hour to impress, as Fuller is likely to be consigned to the bench after the jet lagged Jamaican played the full 90 mins against Burnley last Saturday.

Unless Pulis changes to 5 at the back, I envisage the team to look something like this;

Sorensen
Wilkinson
Faye
Shawcross
Higginbotham
Etherington
Whelan
Whitehead
Lawrence
Beattie
Kitson

With Delap and Fuller maybe seeing 20 mins or so each to make their own impact should the game still be salvageable around the 70 min mark – if it isn’t I would expect the likes of Etherington, Beattie and Whelan to be withdrawn earlier for the 6 pointer against Birmingham on Saturday.

Ever the pre kick off optimist I will be putting my money on a Dave Kitson goal and a 1-1 draw…… either that or a 4 or 5 nil loss!