Stoke City have made a dismal start to their Premier League campaign. After four games, the Potters have just one point on the board and have conceded as many as ten goals in the process. Big things were expected of them this campaign as they had finished ninth in the last three seasons on the bounce. However, Mark Hughes side have been far from impressive and need to buckle up really soon or else they have a tough season ahead.
Stoke City will travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday to face Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace. The Potters are sitting rock bottom of the table with just one point which they earned against newly-promoted Middlesbrough on the opening day. Since then, they have lost 4-1 to Manchester City, 1-0 to Everton and 4-0 to Spurs. On the other hand, Crystal Palace find themselves 11th on the table with four points from four games and are on the back of an impressive 2-1 win against Boro.
Stoke City, desperate for a win, will face a tough battle against the Eagles. Another loss can trounce the team’s morale and Mark Hughes must take a cautious approach.
Here is the predicted Stoke City lineup against Crystal Palace.
Defence
Jack Butland is out for a long term and veteran Shay Given will continue under the bar. Glen Johnson has been sorely missed by the Potters so far this season and the experienced English international defender will walk back to the starting XI in the right-back position. Skipper Ryan Shawcross will continue to ply his trade at the heart of the defence and summer signing from Porto, on loan Bruno Martins Indi, will partner the Englishman. Eric Pieters will keep his place in the left back position. Stoke defence needs to pick up their game at any cost or else the Potters are in deep trouble.
Midfield
Experienced Glenn Whelan should be deployed in defensive midfield and his key job will be to protect the back four. Gianelli Imbula and Joe Allen should be starting just in front of the Irish international operating in a box to box roles. Allen, Stoke’s marquee signing this summer, is yet to prove his worth in Stoke City colours and needs to impress at the earliest.
Attack
Manchester City loanee Wilfred Bony will spearhead the attack and we can expect to see Bojan and Arnautovic operating from the two flanks. Shaqiri is unlikely to return to full fitness ahead of the Palace game but could start the game from the bench.
