Capital One Cup preview and odds: Stoke City vs Liverpool

Published on: 04/01/2016

Capital One Cup preview and odds: Stoke City vs Liverpool

January 5, 2016 19:45pm - Goodison Park

Capital One Cup Semi-final, First-leg

Stoke and Liverpool will continue their respective quests for silverware when the sides meet in the first-leg of the Capital One Cup Semi-final at the Britannia Stadium on Tuesday night.

Stoke in hunt for elusive silverware

Stoke started the new year with a disappointing 2-1 defeat away to West Bromwich Albion and remain firmly entrenched in the middle of the Premier League table. They will now turn their attention to the League Cup as they continue their chase for a first top-flight trophy in more than forty years.

The Potters won their one and only League Cup with a 2-1 over Chelsea in 1972. If they are to progress to the final they will have to overcome a side that has won the trophy more than any other.

Mark Hughes men got to this stage of the competition by scoring just five goals - less than any other team left in the tournament.

Liverpool out to boost cup pedigree

As eight-time winners, Liverpool are the most successful team in the history of the League Cup. They picked up their first League Cup trophy back in 1981, while their last triumph came in 2012 under Kenny Dalglish. They booked their place in this years semi-finals thanks a comfortable 6-1 away win to Premier League side Southampton.

The Reds currently occupy eighth place in the league and come into this game on the back of a 2-0 defeat away to West Ham. Despite their inconsistent form, they will go into this match as favourites to take a lead into the second-leg

Team news

Stoke City are still without Stephen Ireland, Marco Muniesa and long-term absentee Shay Given. Meanwhile, Liverpool could welcome back James Milner, but Jordan Henderson, Divock Origi, Martin Skrtel, Jordan Rossiter, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez and Jon Flanagan are all still out.

Recent form (League)

Stoke City: LWWLD

Liverpool: LWWLD

Betting odds and tips

Liverpool will start as favourites but Klopps men have struggled for goal in recent games, having scored jusy two in their last four league outings. The Potters are strong in defence, having kept four clean sheets in their last five home games in all competitions, and could once again restrict the goal threat of the visitors.

With a second-leg at Anfield still to play, a draw would suit the away side and can be backed at 23/10 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 04/01/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (04/01/2016 13:36:51) but are subject to change.