It's true Liverpool has been struggling mostly this season, especially away from home. Yet, I have never seen Liverpool struggled as much as facing a team like Stoke City. In fact, I am sure Liverpool would rather face Manchester United, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and even Barcelona than Stoke City! Stoke City's strength and gameplan can expose all the current Liverpool side weakness. First of all, they have a team full of strong 6 feeters. They work like work-horse, pressing and body-checking Liverpool the whole game using their long legs and muscle. Under such physical and RUBY-like style, Liverpool has been too busy dealing with all the long balls and physical pounding and thus, they can never get into their own rhythm. Stoke's attack is all about long-ball, continuous sending long crosses and crazy super powerful throw-in from Delap to the box with giants Jones, Huth, Shawcross, Fuller using their height and power to attack Liverpool with headers through set pieces. With Reina in GK, Carragher as DF, small MF like Lucas, Meireles and Maxi, Liverpool will always have trouble stopping Stoke long-ball strategy.
In recent games, Liverpool has clearly getting back on thre right track with key players regaining their form. However, this horrible display vs Stoke City has worried all LFC fans and media again speculated when will Hodgson step down. Yet, I don't blame Hodgson and Liverpool players for losing this game. In my opinion, Stoke City is the most difficult opponent for Liverpool among any teams in the world!
LFC Player of the game: Kyrgiakos
Starting line-up: (4-4-2)
Reina
Carragher Kyrgiakos Skrtel Konchesky
Meireles Gerrard Lucas Maxi
Kuyt Torres
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