Stoke City will play hosts to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday looking to bag all three points at the bet365 Stadium. Paul Lambert’s side will look to get back to winning ways after suffering a disappointing defeat away at Bournemouth in their last Premier League outing. The Potters are currently in the drop zone, sitting in 18th place with only goal difference separating them from 17th placed Swansea City. They are in real danger of getting relegated at the end of the current campaign. Lambert will be responsible to get some favourable results in the coming months to try and conjure up a rescue mission which might keep the Staffordshire club in the top tier of English football for another season.
The recent history of the fixture makes a grim reading for the visitors as Stoke City have won 9 of their last 10 meetings with the Seagulls in all competitions. Paul Lambert is expected to opt for a 4-3-3 formation and could choose to bring back Mame Biram Diouf into his starting eleven.
4-3-3 Stoke City Predicted Lineup To Face Brighton And Hove Albion
Defence
Jack Butland will start in goal for Stoke City and will be protected by a back four consisting of Ryan Shawcross and Kurt Zouma in central defence while Moritz Bauer operates as the right-back and Erik Pieters starts on the left side of the backline.
Paul Lambert’s defenders conceded two goals in their last league outing against Bournemouth but had kept two clean sheets in a row in their previous two matches prior to that contest. The Scottish manager will be hoping that his back four can keep another clean sheet versus Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Midfield
The trio of Joe Allen, Geoff Cameron and Badou Ndiaye might be deployed at the centre of the park. Darren Fletcher could return from his injury ahead of this clash but will have to settle for a place on the Potters’ bench.
Attack
The dangerous front three of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Mame Biram Diouf and Xherdan Shaqiri will start up top for the Potters. The terrific trio of Stoke City has a lot of goals and assists in between them this season. Hence it is expected that one of them will make the difference on the day at the bet365 stadium.
Jese Rodriguez is also expected to be involved in the squad for this home encounter versus Brighton & Hove Albion after featuring for the U23s on Monday, though he might not feature in the starting eleven.
