Potters aim to avoid Mersey Misery

Following two back-to-back defeats and an extra-time exit from the Carling Cup in midweek, the Potters faithful have reason to be fearful ahead of Saturday’s clash at Goodison Park.

The Toffees look to be over their customary slow start and will be buoyed by last weekends draw at White Hart Lane which followed an impressive 2-0 victory in the Merseyside derby, a week prior, ending a run of three consecutive defeats against their rivals.

Having been dumped out of the Carling Cup in extra-time at West Ham, the visitors may have few jaded legs in their ranks and Stoke boss, Tony Pulis will know his side cannot afford to be slow out of the blocks as Everton look to continue their recent run of results and climb the table to more familiar territory. The Potters have gone behind in too many games this season but have shown great character and have the best record in the league for points gained after conceding first but Stoke’s supremo will know only too well, that his side must be switched on from the first whistle and not be forced to claw back a deficit again. Interestingly, to only count the results from the second half of games this season would see the Potters top of the Premier League.

Toffees captain Phil Neville is aware of Stoke’s threat but is now ready to lead Everton up the table: “I think now we're getting rewarded for our effort and we're really looking forward to the next month, to really attack and climb up the league. Stoke are a difficult side to play against home or away. So we're going to have to be at our best defensively to keep them out.”

Pulis opted to make six changes to his line-up at Upton Park on Wednesday from the side beaten on home soil by a late Manchester United goal and the Welshman is likely to welcome back those that missed out as Stoke search for more goals. Despite almost salvaging a point against the Red Devils after Tuncay fired home a magnificent curling strike, the Turk is expected to return to the bench as well as Ricardo Fuller who has missed the last two games through injury. Eidur Gudjohnsen could be the man to miss out on a place in the squad as he looks a shadow of his former self and is still struggling to regain fitness and come to terms with the pace of the Premier League again.

Stoke have been creating chances in front of goal but failing to put them away and kill games off. The fans are well aware that they should be in the hat for the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup having gone ahead at Upton Park and continued to create openings to have the Hammers well out-of-sight before half-time but Stoke failed to capitalise on their chances.

One man that Pulis will be glad to see return is midfielder Dean Whitehead who missed the defeat to Sir Alex’s side after serving a one match suspension. Whitehead’s energy and non-stop pressing will be a key factor if Stoke are to get any change from a rejuvenated Everton side. The Stoke boss will be hoping Whitehead can minimise the threat of Tim Cahill supporting the Toffees front line.

Last season was a very close encounter, much to the surprise of some pundits as Stoke battled to a well deserved 1-1 draw. Things could have been even better for the visitors after Robert Huth had headed the Potters in the lead after the break. Unfortunately, Stoke failed to regroup from the restart and within seconds Leon Osman smashed a great strike past the helpless Sorensen in the Stoke goal. There is no chance of a repeat of this as Osman continues his layoff with an ankle injury suffered against Liverpool. Jack Rodwell and Marouane Fellaini remain sidelined too adding to Moyes’ injury woes.

Although David Moyes will be pleased with his side’s point at Tottenham last weekend despite taking the lead, the Scot will be hopeful that his usually solid goalkeeper Tim Howard does not make the same mistake, flapping at a cross that gifted Spurs their equaliser.

Stoke’s height and power will certainly ensure a tough afternoon for Howard particularly from set-pieces as they try to expose the American once again. Pulis will have his players well drilled and organised to bombard Howard in the early stages and test his confidence.

The home side will be boosted with the news that Mikel Arteta seems to be winning his battle to be fit for the clash. The Spaniard is instrumental to their play and forges a great partnership with Cahill causing havoc in and around the opposition’s box. The performances of these two and the way Stoke deal with their threat could well be the determining factor in who takes the points on Merseyside with both sides only separated by goal difference at the moment with ten points each.