Stoke v Liverpool: Match thread

Martin Skrtel makes his first start since October as Liverpool look to move six points clear with victory at Stoke City. Listen live from 5pm GMT.
The centre back comes into the side in place of Daniel Agger as Rafael Benitez makes six changes from the side that beat Preston in the FA Cup.
 
Dirk Kuyt, Pepe Reina, Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun and Lucas Leiva also return.
 
The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Carragher, Aurelio, Hyypia, Skrtel, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun, Riera, Gerrard, Kuyt. Subs: Cavalieri, Keane, Torres, Dossena, Babel, Plessis, El Zhar.

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A very worrying line-up ... not even a glimpse of Agger.

I agree Res, I find it a very unusual line-up... I can't see the point of leaving both Keane and Torres out of the starting XI, at least play one of them!

We don't need to be resting players, at the current rate of one game a week it's pointless.

Anyway, I have confidence in the lads who've been picked to get the job done. Come on REDS!!!

My question is whether it'll be a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2?

Hopefully the latter, with Gerrard playing just off Kuyt.

Hmmmmm.......interesting line up, good to see Skrts back, although I'm surprised Rafa hasn't got Agger on the bench, he must think Martin is up for the full game.

Thought Robbie would have been starting this  ........no doubt he will bring Fernando on later in the second half when Stoke are fading.

Hope we can win this game, somehow I don't think it will be that easy, even though I've predicted 4-1 to us 

I'd be quite happy with 1-0 as long as we get the three points.

Come on Rafa's Reds !!!!!

4-2-3-1 definately. Kuyt leading the line? Robbie, Fernando, wtf? Very surprising but hopefully it'll do.

Absolutely stunned by the line-up.

It has to be 4 4 2!

Can't give Stoke a sniff and slit their throats early hopefully.

Would loved to have Nando or Robbie starting but we'll give the boys that are starting all the support they need.

Go the Reds

no doubt he will bring Fernando on later in the second half when Stoke are fading.

I agree, I just think it makes more sense to go after them all guns blazing, and rest players once we have a comfortable cushion. As we saw at Anfield, the further we get into the game without scoring, the higher their confidence is in holding out.

Last time we were stunned, we won 5-1.

Rafa's probably playing to their weakness' again.

What the F**k.

Last time we were stunned, we won 5-1.

Rafa's probably playing to their weakness' again.

I've absolutely no doubt that he is, it just seems a bit unusual is all.

This better work.


Anyone have a link to a live stream please?

Also Rafa won't want to risk Nando getting injured again, and Stoke can be a bit physical, so maybe he's saving him for  when they won't be able to keep up with him 
Don't quite know why Robbie isn't in the team though 

This better work.


Anyone have a link to a live stream please?

Check the stream thread in about a minute, I'll post a couple.

http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php?topic=1288.0

Bloody rafa! he proper gave the impression that Torres would start the other day! really surprised that he would still leave £40 million + of fully fit strikers on the bench though! and it is still a quite attacking team with Yossi and Reira on the wings looks like Gerrard is up front then!

I just hope it pays off, Rafa sure knows how to get your anxious!

Odd selection but still a worthy enough team to win the match. Maybe Fernando isn't as fit as Rafa says he is? He's probably just lacking match fitness.

Very attack minded... bench. Keane, Torres, Babel and El Zhar make up 4 of our 7 subs. Strange Agger not even being on the bench.

Maybe Fernando isn't as fit as Rafa says he is? He's probably just lacking match fitness.

He could do with some playing time then!

Hope he gets more than 15-20 minutes today though - I'd like to see him come on at half-time, but with Rafa you never know!

I'm guessing Agger's ill or something... but I can see why Skrtel has been picked, they aren't going to win much in the air with Carra at right back and Hyypia and Skrtel at centre back.

Just remembered as well, last time me and the missus watched a Liverpool game on setanta it crashed and did not come back on until the next day, if anyone else has had this problem today, can u pm me and I'll see if mine if affected at all.  It takes the piss though really cos it's a tenner a month and their are only the 2 channels on there that we watch!

Reina, 
Carragher   Hyypia Skrtel Aurelio
Benayoun Mascherano Lucas Riera
Gerrard Kuyt

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Subs: Cavalieri Keane Torres Dossena Babel,  Plessis El Zhar

  Reasonably happy  Hard worker, good choice 1st 11 choice
  Not convinced yet  Should be doing a lot better by now.

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Sticking with a 3-1 for the REDS. Catch up with you after the game, I'm off to Walkabouts in town.

Just remembered as well, last time me and the missus watched a Liverpool game on setanta it crashed and did not come back on until the next day, if anyone else has had this problem today, can u pm me and I'll see if mine if affected at all.  It takes the piss though really cos it's a tenner a month and their are only the 2 channels on there that we watch!

Did we win the last time it crashed?

Nice post RED, definitely catches the eye

Kit for today?? Will it be the same one we had against Arsenal?, or all grey, or the green one? any ideas?