FA Cup Quarter Final Match Preview - Stoke City vs. West Ham

Article first published as FA Cup Quarter Final Match Preview: Stoke City vs. West Ham on Technorati.
Stoke seeks Revenge over 3-0 defeat at the weekend but the Hammers Are Dealing out Blow after Blow right now.

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
march 11, 2011

Stoke City vs West Ham

Grant hungry for FA Cup after Loosing Final Last Year

This looks to be another interesting lower table match up. Stoke were dealt a 3-0 defeat by the Hammers at Upton Park on the weekend as Avram Grant's men have taken 7 points from their last 9 in the league and they are in much brighter spirits for this match. Tony Pulis's side on the other hand has only taken one point from their last nine in the league.

Neither team is really suffering from many injuries at the moment and Grant finally has his team starting to make a stand to avoid relegation. Stoke will be out for blood as they will not want to suffer a second straight defeat to the same team. This time around they will have home field advantage at the Britannia which is rated as one of the hardest places to play in the league on the road.

Parker is the Life of the Hammers

Grant is desperate to keep his side up, as his job depends on it, and his teams success in cup matches this season has truly been their strong point. This is the last chance for either team to have a chance at winning something this season. Grant last season at Portsmouth led his team to the FA Cup Final only to be defeated before their relegation. Scott Parker will be sure to be on his best as he continues to drive his team since returning from injury.

Grant has much experience being right where he is, but I believe this team actually has the talent to stay up and possibly win if healthy and on the right form. I believe the Hammers will continue their strong run and take a 1-2 victory away from the Britannia to keep their hopes high of possibly scalping a Trophy from this dismal season for them.

Liverpool Defeats Stoke City, Suarez Scores in Debut

Article first published as Liverpool Defeats Stoke City, Suarez Scores in Debut on Technorati.
The Reds took their third victory on the Bounce with a 2-0 victory at Anfield

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
February 3, 2011

Liverpool fans stirred in their seats anxious with delight and wonder as their squad prepared for their Wednesday night bow against hard nosed Stoke City. New signing Luis Suarez was starting on the bench as his work permit and paperwork cleared the night before allowing him the chance to possibly make his debut in front of the Kop.

LFC.tv Carroll Steps in Front of Anfield

Andy Carroll brought the crowd to their feet as he was introduced in front of the faithful before the start of the match. And with the match line-ups announced many were scratching their head at King Kenny's 3-4-2-1 set up. Fabio Aurelio and Soitirios Kyrgiakos started after absences from the starting eleven for some time, and Dirk Kuyt was set to lead the line, as many forgot he was signed as a striker from Feyenoord Rotterdam.

Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly were set to play more attacking wing backs while Aurelio was also in the match to try and provide additional width with Kuyt's aerial power hoping to be highlighted, as well as help hold the midfield with Lucas. But none the less no body could understand Kenny's strategy. Perhaps that was the idea, as Liverpool took the attack to Stoke with a constant push forward.

The first half saw several near moments as Kuyt was playing with a renewed vigor upfront like he had never been made into a right sided midfielder. Meireles and Gerrard were bright in the middle as both were pushing behind Kuyt for the opening goal.

Stoke had their own ideas as former Liverpool wide man Jermaine Pennant was set to provide service for on loan John Carew, while the commentators worried about the possible lack of service for Liverpool without a traditional wide attacker like there old No. 16.

The more the match opened up the more people realized Kenny had tailored his side specifically to the task of picking Stoke apart. Liverpool rained down pressure on the Potters and pressed through the first half but didnt break the deadlock.

The second half started with Liverpool attacking at an even greater level. Kenny must have roused his charges even more in the locker room as Meireles put the Reds in front at the 47' minute for his third goal in four games and the crowd lit up. Pressure continued to mount and the Potters kept pressing forward and opened up several more shots on Reina but just could not find the light at the end of the tunnel.

Then on the 63' minute the Kop got what it was waiting for, Luis Suarez came on for Fabio Aurelio and the No. 7 shirt returned to the pitch with high hopes for a bright new future. Suarez was on the ball at once, tackling and scraping with precision and power as he harried the defense and showed he was ready to get stuck into the English game. It would take only 16 minutes and the Uruguayan rounded Stoke keeper Begovic and put the ball in the back of the net on the 79' minute. A late clearance attempt by Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson knocked the goal bound ball into the post but didnt keep it away and Anfield exploaded.

LFC.tv Suarez Opens his Liverpool Goals Account

His first match since December 8th, his first in a Liverpool shirt, his first day into the club without having trained at Melwood a day, and Suarez opened his account. It was a dream debut and one that will certainly ease the minds of many a Liverpool fan as the Young starlet looks to set a precedent of intent as he worked his socks off to show his brilliance in just a thirty minute stint on the pitch.

Kenny Dalglish responded to the at first controversial goal on whether it was Suarez's to claim, "I gave him it. It was going in," he added. "It is a great start to score on your debut and he worked hard and him and Dirk Kuyt linked up well a couple of times."

Tony Pulis also admitted he was happy for the new Liverpool frontman. "If I was Kenny, if he (Suarez) was half-a-yard anywhere near the ball I'd be saying it was his goal, "We are quite happy for the lad to have it. I watched him in the World Cup and in games for Ajax and he's a wonderful player - but give him a bit of time."

On the game itself he added, "We did okay for the first half but to concede just after half-time knocked us. But up until the second goal I thought we were in the game."

It was a great night for the Reds, and it looks to be true that Liverpool got the best end of the deal with Fernando Torres making his exit and Suarez and Carroll coming in.

Liverpool vs Stoke City Preview

Article first published as Liverpool vs Stoke City Preview on Technorati.
Liverpool face Stoke in another Must win for a push up the Table. Suarez to Make Reds Debut.

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
February 2, 2011

Spirits will be riding high today as Luis Suarez looks set for his Liverpool debut in front of the Kop. The Reds will play host to Stoke City after a protracted Transfer Sage involving Fernando Torres' departure to Chelsea and the arrival of both Suarez and Andy Carroll.

Carroll is still several matches away from his debut as the new Liverpool No. 9 having taken over the jersey that was made so famous by Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, and also anti-hero Fernando Torres. The later looks to have burned any bridges he had left at the club with his comments over the past several days. Carroll has been confident in his interviews since the move telling LFC.tv that he was, "confident he would score goals for the club."

Carroll also commented on what he would bring to the club, "I'll bring as much as I can to the team - I'll score goals, create chances, hold up the ball and just try my best really."

Luis Suarez has stated nothing but desire and delight at being a Liverpool player. The new No. 7, last held by Robbie Keane and Harry Kewell, but brought to fame under the names of Kevin Keegan and current manager Kenny Dalglish, has made more fans than Torres, as he has heaped praise on his arrival to Liverpool saying, "My ambitions for the future are to do my very best for Liverpool, to try to learn more about English football and to become a champion."

"Liverpool is a very famous club - the most famous club in England - and I watched Liverpool and English football as a boy."

"It's a dream to be able to come and play here."

The humility that the young Uruguayan has shown to his former club Ajax as well has seen his former manager, Rik van den Boog, return the favor,

"Luis is going to bring the place alive because he is a street fighter," Van den Boog stated."

"He arrived here with a decent reputation but he was not a big player then. In the dressing room he soon stood up and became a leader. That's why he was special. When he goes on his travels to South America he always rushes back. Suarez is back on the training pitch the next morning when he has just flown around half the world for a game for Uruguay. He immediately puts his focus on his club again. We'll remember him for his incredible amount of goals and what he has done for the club."

As well as Suarez looking to be welcomed into the squad tonight, Liverpool vice-captain Jaime Carragher looks to make his return to first team action for the first time under Kenny Dalglish. For someone with Liverpool Red flowing through his veins as much as Carragher, it will be interesting to see how much of his heart and soul is on the pitch tonight after being out for three months with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Stoke dealt with the moves of two front men as well as Tuncay Sunli moved on to VfL Wolfsburg and Eidur Gudjohnson went on Loan to Fulham to make room for the official arrival of former Liverpool wide man Jermaine Pennant whom converted his loan from Real Zaragoza, to a permanent deal with the English Club and the Loan arrival of John Carew from Aston Villa whom was moved to allow for the arrival of Darren Bent at Villa Park.

Both clubs are in need of three points with the Reds hoping for a renewed vigor with the buzz that has been created by the new owners that there are truly here to bring Liverpool back to glory. A win would see the Merseyside club 2 points from tying with sixth placed Sunderland, and still 9 points off of fourth placed Chelsea. Stoke would see themselves leapfrog Liverpool by a point and take over seventh place.

Tony Pulis and his Potters will be without the service of defensive starlet Ryan Shawcross, whom was tipped as a Liverpool target by some during the window but nothing came to life, as he is still suspended. Marc Wilson and Danny Collins both look fit and set to rejoin the first team while Danny Higginbottom will be sidelined with a hamstring problem and Andy Wilkinson with back issues.

Pulis believes this will be a different Liverpool side than the one that his team beat 2-0 in November at the Britannia Stadium. He made the following comments on Stoke City's official website,""Liverpool are playing with a lot more confidence, a lot more willingness to do what they are capable of as a group of players under Kenny and they have certainly turned things around."

"Things will be different this time, but what we have to do is go there and give it our best shot. We know it's going to be tough."

Possible Line-Ups

Liverpool - Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Agger, Johnson, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Meireles, Maxi, Suarez.

Stoke City - Begovic; Wilkinson, Huth, Faye, Collins, Pennant, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington, Carew, Jones.