Rooted to the 19th place in the points table, Stoke City have just six games to save their top-flight status and Paul Lambert, the new coach at BET365 will be desperate for some positive results immediately. However, they face a huge task this weekend, when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Stoke.
Spurs, who beat Chelsea in the previous round, are the most in-form team in the Premier League and will look to establish their place in the top-4 with a win in this game. The Potters are fresh from a loss to Arsenal but playing at home, will believe that they can take something from this game. They have not won any of their last 8 games, but are still just three points away from safety. Here is the predicted lineup Lambert might field for this tie:
Team News:
In early team news, the Potters are still without the services of Lee Grant, Ibrahim Afellay, Charlie Adam and Eric Maxim Chupo-Moting, all of who are out injured. Kurt Zouma has already taken the field but is not expected to be fully fit for this weekend while Kevin Wimmer is back in training and should be available for this clash.
Expected lineup (3-4-3):
Defence:
English international Jack Butland is the first choice for Stoke under the bar and will keep his place in the side for this weekend. With Zouma out injured, Stoke’s backline all but selects itself for this tie. Ryan Shawcross has not been at his best this season but should start this game at the heart of the back-3 for the hosts.
Kevin Wimmer is back in action and might start to the right of Shawcross while Bruno Martins Indi, who needs to step up his game quickly, will retain his place on the left side of the backline.
Midfield:
Erik Pieters has been effective in a wing-back role this season and could start on the left side of the midfield while Moritz Bauer has put in some decent displays on the right side of the midfield and will hope to keep the likes of Heung Min-Son away from the goal.
Joe Allen remains a crucial part of the squad and will start as a part of the midfield. He should be accompanied by Badou Ndiaye, who has been preferred regularly in a midfield role recently.
Attack:
Peter Crouch has not been at his best this season and might not be able to keep his place in the side this weekend. Jese Rodriguez, who has not been at his best recently, could lead the attack for Stoke while Xherdan Shaqiri and Ramadan Sobhi are expected to play on either side of Jese.
Here is how they might line up:
