Stoke v Liverpool 16.00 Sunday 9th August 2015

Stoke v Liverpool 16.00 Sunday 9th August 2015

Okay, with two days before the 2015/16 Premier Leagues lets focus on Stoke Vs Liverpool on Sunday 9th August. This season will be make or break for Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool never recovered from the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona and brought in players for big money  that under performed for the team. Players like Lovren, Moreno and Marckovic played well below form and will be have to make major improvements this season. These players have had a year to bed in to the hustle and bustle of Premier League football so there should be no excuses this term. Liverpool spent wisely this summer and seemed to have addressed positions that caused them problems last season. The arrival of Firminho Milner, Clyne and Benteke should have a positive influence on the team as a whole. 

Clyne is a terrific left back, a solid defender and attacker in one, Milner is grafter who likes to get forward and score goals while Firminho and Benteke look potential world class. 

Stoke are not to be taken lightly, they are a tough team to play against at home and it was this team that humiliated the reds on the final day of the season. Liverpool will still be smarting from that 6-1 humiliation but that was a dejected and dispirited performance with absolutely no heart whatsoever. I fully expect this Liverpool buoyed by its new signings to be entirely different opposition now. Rodgers will be keen to start the season better than last and knows that his managerial career is hanging by a thread-start bad and the knives will be out. Benteke scored an absolute blinder against Swindon Town last week and revels in this type of opposition. This is the type of physical encounter he does really well against as evidenced by his performances for Aston Villa last season.

Back Benteke to score anytime is a skinny 11/8 with Paddy Power so I am going to plump for these two bets at the better odds.


My Betting Tips:

Christian Benteke - First Goalscorer @ 9/2 with Paddy Power

Christian Benteke to score anytime and Liverpool to win @ 3/1 with Paddy Power.