Stoke City faced one of the most demoralising defeats in the history of the Premier League at the hands of the current league leaders Manchester City last weekend. The Potters were taken to the swords by the Citizens who scored seven goals against them in their eighth encounter in the Premier League this season.
Stoke City are, however, looking to bounce back from their loss in their next match against Bournemouth. The Cherries are having a forgettable season of their own, having lost six out of their first eight matches so far this term. Their last match against Tottenham Hotspur saw them lose by a single goal.
This is how the Potters might lineup against the Cherries in their next encounter.
Defence
The Stoke City defence looked completely out of sorts in their last match against Manchester City, giving them the opportunity to score seven goals at the Etihad Stadium. However, the four-man backline consisting of Thomas Edwards, Kurt Zouma, Kevin Wimmer and Erik Peters will look to put their act together against Bournemouth when they take them on in their own background.
Jack Butland will be standing under the crossbars for the Potters once again after a forgettable match last weekend.
Midfield
The four-man midfield, with Mame Biram Diouf, who scored one out of the two goals for his side against the Citizens, along with Darren Fletcher, Geoff Cameron and Eric Maxim Chuopo-Moting offered some resistance in the middle of the pitch.
The midfield is the strong point for Stoke City so far this season and they will need to perform well if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top half of the table. They will look to make amends for their mistakes in the next match and get a much-needed win for their side in this tie.
Attack
Mark Hughes is well aware of the fact that he will have to guide his team to a respectable position in the Premier League by the end of the season and will need his strikers to fire them home in the future.
It is imperative for Xherdan Shaqiri and Jese to ensure that they get the better of the opposition defenders and score a few goals to see their side through when they go up against Bournemouth, who will be desperate for a win as well.
Predicted Lineup
Butland, Edwards, Zouma, Wimmer, Peters, Diouf, Fletcher, Cameron, Chuopo-Moting, Shaquiri, Jese.
