Stoke vs Liverpool live: Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino turn things around for the Reds
Keep up to date with all the action from the bet365 Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool will bid to bounce back from the disappointment of their mid-week draw with Bournemouth as they take on Stoke this Saturday.
Mark Hughes’ men are suffering from a sudden loss in form having succumbed to defeats in their last three games. As a result, the Potters now sit in 12th place in the league with 36 points to their name.
As for Liverpool, their recent draw with Bournemouth has put their hopes of European football on hold as the battle for a top-four spot heats up. Jurgen Klopp’s men cannot afford to slip up again.
Follow all of the action with our liveblog below.
When is it?
Kick-off is 3.00pm, Saturday 8 April, at the bet365 Stadium.
Where can I watch it?
The game won’t be broadcast live on TV but replays will be available on MOTD from 10.30pm.
It’s a big game for…
Emre Can. With Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and now Sadio Mane all out of the equation, the German midfielder can expect a busy day at the office on Saturday. Can struggled against Leicester in February when he was tasked with anchoring the Liverpool midfield but has gone on to find his feet since. Stoke head into the game with three successive defeats to their name but Can would be wise to have his wits about him on Saturday against a typically resilient side.
Remember when…
Stoke embarrassed Liverpool 6-1 at the end of the 2014/15 season? Steven Gerrard was sent off in his final game for the club as the Potters ran riot against Brendan Rodgers’ side on.
Player to watch…
Xherdan Shaqiri. The former Bayern Munich and Inter Milan player is expected to make his first appearance for Stoke this weekend after a lengthy injury spell on the sideline. The Swiss hasn’t featured for the side since January but given the technical quality of his game, and the ability to make something out of nothing, Shaqiri will be one player to keep a close eye.
Last three meetings…
Liverpool 4 Stoke 1, Premier League, December 2016
Liverpool 4 Stoke 1, Premier League, April 2016
Liverpool 0 Stoke 1, League Cup, January 2016
Form guide…
Stoke: LLLDWL
Liverpool: DWDWWL
Odds…
Stoke to win: 3/1
Liverpool to win: 94/100
Draw: 13/5
(Odds provided by Bet 888)
17 MINS
GOAL
BOURNEMOUTH 0 - 1 CHELSEA
Moses drives into the box and picks out Costa, who turns and miss-hits the strike, but it bounces awkwardly into the back of the net. That's the Spaniards 19th of the season, even if it did fly in laced with luck.
Game on!
20 MINS
GOAL
BOURNEMOUTH 0 - 2 CHELSEA
Hazard doubles Chelsea's tally in quick succession, with a sublime strike from inside of the area. Kante sends an exquisite ball to the Belgian, who skips past Boruc and slots it into an open net.
23 MINS
Bournemouth's response to the two goal deficit will be vital. If they sit back and carry on the way they are playing, then this could be a whitewash.
26 MINS
Wilshire picks up a returned pass from Pugh and charges at the Chelsea defence. It takes seconds before Luiz chops down the midfielder.
Free kick to The Cherries.
29 MINS
How Bournemouth have not equalised there is a mystery. Afobe gets on the end of a cross, his attempt rattles the post, hits Courtois and then flies across the goal line.
31 MINS
Kante picks up a loose ball and charges through the centre of midfield, before releasing the ball wide to Hazard. The delivery to the wide man is over hit and it goes out for a throw in.
33 MINS
Pedro releases Costa through on goal, but the Spaniards final strike is lacklustre and effortless. The attacker needs to sharpen up today.
36 MINS
Once again, Chelsea spread the ball wide to Moses. The 26-year-old attempts to send a ball into the box, but it's intercepted by a sea of Bournemouth shirts. The visitors are using the width well and putting The Cherries wing-backs under constant pressure.
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