As we enter February, the shortest month of the year (let me be the first to remind you that this year February has 29 days), Valencia's coaching staff must think this is some kind of sick joke. 8 games in 29 days. It's been done before, of course. But not quite like this. To start the month, Valencia host Barcelona at the Mestalla in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.

By Chris Wright

Just a quickie to keep you abreast of the fact that Peter Crouch has reportedly escaped a three-game game ban and, indeed, will be allowed to get away scot free for his sneak-attack 'finger of doom' eye-poke assault on West Brom centre-back Jonas Olsson's corneas at the Britannia at the weekend a crime that would almost certainly land you with a six-match ban at the very least in a game as uncivilised as rugby.

By Alan Duffy

Stoke City 1-2 West Bromwich Albion Premier League 21st January 2012

West Brom secured a vital three points away at a blustery Britannia against a Stoke side who never really got into their stride.

"I think I'm in danger of repeating myself here," said Kenny Dalglish when asked one question too many about his team's failure to break down a stubborn Stoke City side.
Over 44,000 Liverpudlians might have thought something similar after seeing their team's seventh draw in 11 league matches at Anfield this season.

"I think I'm in danger of repeating myself here," said Kenny Dalglish when asked one question too many about his team's failure to break down a stubborn Stoke City side.
Over 44,000 Liverpudlians might have thought something similar after seeing their team's seventh draw in 11 league matches at Anfield this season.

Tried to replicate the formation from the 2-0 win against Stoke last season, starting with three center-backs for the first time this season. Didn't work. Tried sending Carroll on for final thirty minutes. Didn't work. Bellamy couldn't change matters either. Another disappointing, frustrating draw at Anfield.

After two successive cup games, Liverpool return to league action this Saturday with a home fixture against Stoke City. The Reds have already met Tony Pulis` men on two occasions this season, suffering a contentious 1-0 defeat at the Britannia...
This is a content summary. Visit http://www.

Premier League Preview: Upset at the Bridge and a third defeat for United? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

With Tottenham tied on points with Manchester United and City hitting a bump in form, the title race is becoming more wide open, and in turn it leaves three teams three of the original Big Four, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea fighting it out for the fourth place.

Gerrard signed a new deal this week...Liverpool face Stoke at Anfield on Saturday in the Premier League. After a winning performance at the Etihad in the League Cup, the Reds are brimming with confidence. Interestingly, the last time visitors Stoke lost in the league was at the Etihad, Pulis's boys are on a bit of a roll.

Despite temporary setbacksCinderella always triumphs in the end. The Pantomime season started on Sunday this year with Cinderella at the Britannia Palace with your very own Mr. Christopher Foy playing Baron Hardup. There are several candidates for the Ugly Sisters, Petunia and Nasturtium. (Petty and Nasty) Shawcross and Whitehead will do for me.

What are the odds Tottenham finish in the top four? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

Three successive Stoke victories have finally forced pundits to accept that Tony Pulis has a realistic chance of getting the England job. Surely he can't do any worse than predecessor Martin Johnson.

Younes couldn't have picked a worse time to roll out his Petr Cech impressionWWWWDWWWWWWFOY. Tottenham's remarkable run of winning form came to a shuddering end at Stoke yesterday but the controversial decisions made by referee Chris Foy left a particularly bitter taste in the mouth.
An inept first half showing from Spurs, unbecoming of a title-chasing team, had left them 2-0 and with the prospect of scaling a metaphorical mountain in order to get anything from the game.

By Chris Wright

You may be aware that, in glorious 20-20 retrospect, Tottenham were fairly hard done to against Stoke yesterday. The Potters ran out as 2-1 winners, but it turns out that Spurs were denied by a couple of goal-line handballs, had a man sent off rather softly and saw an Emmanuel Adebayor goal disallowed for offside despite Marc Wilson playing him on by a couple of feet.

Stoke vs Tottenham 2-1 Highlights 2011 Goals Etherington Kaboul Red Video Chris Foy Referee is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Stoke vs Tottenham 2-1 Highlights 2011 Goals Etherington Kaboul Red Video Chris Foy Referee is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Stoke vs Tottenham 2011 ( Stoke v Spurs video below) Final score and result:- Stoke vs Tottenham 2-1 ( Matthew Etherington*2/ Adebayor penalty) 11-12-2011- December 11, 2011- 16.

For many a tortured soul, Peter Crouch's exit from Tottenham was as good as a new signing. A two-season career which peaked in Manchester on that famous evening- briefly spiking into the green with a Young Boys beating hat-trick and the heroics in Lombardy- withered somewhat terminally in its final months.

After a disastrous run of defeats, Tony Pulis' Stoke City have made it two wins in two and their home ground is starting to look like fortress Britannia once again ahead of Sunday's televised clash.

This could be the toughest challenge yet to Scott Parker's unbeaten run as a Spurs player – a fact that he acknowledges.

Premier League Preview: Arsenal and Chelsea fight to catch up with Tottenham and Manchester City - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

With 15 points separating the top five teams in the English Premier League, the race for a top four place is well and truly on. If you bet on football, you'll know that Manchester City are still favourites for the league title but with a tough set of fixtures ahead of them, things can change very quickly.

Stoke are currently flying high (for Stoke) in 8th place and according to their internet forums, confidence about the upcoming match against us is up there to match. A bit surprising considering our run of form, but they reckon that they're the ones that can put a stop to it.
They always make it hard for us at the Britannia and they reckon that their strength in aerial and dead ball situations vs our weakness in aerial and dead ball situations will get them goals.

Luis Suarez today spoke of his delight after being named the Standard Chartered Player of the Month for an unprecedented third time in succession.
The Uruguay striker scooped October's accolade after tallying an incredible 70 per cent of your vote in a poll on this website.
Jose Enrique was named as runner-up, collecting 13 per cent of the vote, while Andy Carroll came third with four per cent.

Highlights of Newcastle United's superb 3-1 victory at the Britannia Stadim in Stoke. A second hat-trick of the season from Demba Ba (12, 40, 81 minutes) along with a superb performance from Jonas Gutierrez amnogst others sealed the win for the Magpies, and there was also a consolation penalty for Stoke's Jonathan Walters (75).

Luis Suarez doesn't suck any more, though if you follow his press clippings he's probably still a diving cheat or worse. And Liverpool can score again. Or at least Suarez can. Which will be important when the club faces off against you know who and some club or other that doesn't really matter except for the fact that he just happens to manage them on Saturday afternoon.

Suarez Brace At Britannia

Suarez celebrates... Liverpool have booked their place in the quarter finals of the League Cup after Luis Suarez put two goals in the Stoke net. Manager Kenny Dalglish was visibly delighted at the result and clearly the Reds are taking this competition very seriously.

Match Review: Stoke 1 Liverpool 2

Liverpool moved into the quarter finals of the Carling Cup last night with a come-from-behind victory over Stoke, which owed much to the brilliance of Luis Suárez. The Uruguayan scored two second half goals to ensure that his side got the victory that their play deserved, unlike when they visited the Britannia in Premier League action and were sent away with only a defeat to remember.

By Chris Wright

'Twas a damn fine effort Sir!

A second-half double from a fizzing Luis Suarez was enough to see Liverpool into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup at the Britannia last night, after Kenwyne Jones had put Stoke one up a minute before half-time with a neat near-post diving header.

Three jinxes ended as Liverpool FC defeat Stoke City at the Britannia

AnfieldIndex Liverpool FC Stats | Liverpool FC Blog | Liverpool FC Forum In football it is lovely feeling when a jinx is broken. So how great a night was it for Liverpool FC supporters when three jinxes were broken in one night?

Kenny Dalglish delighted to see Liverpool fight all the way to earn League Cup win over Stoke City

Reds boss thrilled with the team spirit on display by all areas of his side after they came from behind to pick up a victory at the Britannia

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-10-27 00:01:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Kenny Dalglish has acknowledged that his Liverpool side must go one better than their last trip to Britannia by scoring against Stoke City in tonight's Carling Cup clash.

Earlier this season, Dalglish's men created a plethora of chances away to the Potters but lost 1-0 due to a lack of clinical finishing in front of goal.

The fourth round of the Carling Cup gets underway, and for Liverpool it means a return to the Britannia, the site of their first league loss of the season. Stoke's body of work in the competition is neither lengthy nor impressive, but they got past Spurs during the last round in a match that only took nine hours, and they'll host a Liverpool side that's already won twice on the road in the competition.

Whelan warns Liverpool: Stoke can beat anyone at the Britannia

Potters midfielder says his side are confident they will see off Reds in Carling Cup fourth round clash

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-10-25 17:22:49 from: Talksport

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

By Chris Wright

A few photos of Stoke training in the rain at the club's Clayton Woods complex ahead of their Europa League tie with Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Britannia tomorrow evening...

"Have you seen Crouchie's legs?

Twitter and social media in general are basically killing everything once decent. And if anything is going to kill Sir Alex Ferguson, it would seem the former is going to take responsibility.

Wayne's absence at the Britannia being kept tightly under wraps because hell, it's a cold and wet night in Stoke was outed the night before by his wife on the Twitter.

Javier Hernandez is fit to face Stoke at the Britannia this weekend, and that's the last news that the Potters would have wanted.

Chicarito has scored three goals in two appearances against them and netted in the 27th minutes in both games.

He was lucky to escape serious injury following Ashley Cole's horror tackle in United's 3-1 defeat of Chelsea, and it was terrific news when the gaffer revealed on Thursday that he was available for this game.

There are four ex-Spurs players in the Stoke City squad and while the Potters also have league and European ambitions to worry about, we can expect to come up against some, or maybe all of them this evening.

As Peter Crouch, Wilson Palacios and Jonathan Woodgate linked up with Matthew Etherington at the Britannia, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp revealed that he is harbouring some regrets at letting Woodgate go.

Despite 24 shots at goal Liverpool could do nothing yesterday to break through the brick wall of Stoke's defence at the Britannia.

Like cooking teriyaki chicken in a hot tub, yesterday's match against Stoke didn't turn into the kind of party we'd all hoped for. Luckily, it wasn't the only football played by Liverpool this week, with the first game— the u19 NextGen outing against Norwegian side Molde—likely seen by just about nobody compared to yesterday's frustrating showing at the Britannia.

Walters converts his penalty for Stoke... Despite 24 shots at goal Liverpool could do nothing yesterday to break through the brick wall of Stoke's defence at the Britannia. The home side put themselves in front with a penalty early on and never looked back. Tony Pulis' boys continue their unbeaten run in their fantastic start to the Premier League season.

Stoke See Out 1-0 Win

Walters converts his penalty for Stoke... Despite 24 shots at goal Liverpool could do nothing yesterday to break through the brick wall of Stoke's defence at the Britannia. The home side put themselves in front with a penalty early on and never looked back.

Carra credits Potters defence

Jamie Carragher has praised Stoke dogged defence after a frustrating evening for Liverpool at the Britannia.

View the full story here: Sky Sports

A news article on 2011-09-10 20:21:02 from: Sky Sports

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Carroll, Craig and Coates on the bench: Stoke v LFC

The Liverpool team to face Stoke at the Britannia: Reina, Skrtel, Carragher, Agger, Enrique, Henderson, Lucas, Adam, Downing, Kuyt, Suarez. And on the LFC bench: Doni, Carroll, Johnson, Maxi, Spearing, Bellamy, Coates.

The view from the Britannia

Stoke fan Ryan Summerfield provides the view from the Britannia ahead of Liverpool's clash against the Potters.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-09-10 08:59:36 from: Liverpool FC

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.