Could Stoke City deliver a Capital One Cup upset against Liverpool on Tuesday?

Jurgen Klopp has urged his Liverpool side to be aggressive against Stoke.

Stoke City lock horns with Liverpool on Tuesday night in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final, and could well fancy their chances of pulling off another scalp this season given the contrasting form between the two sides.

Formbook suggests a Stoke win

Mark Hughes’ men have been in great shape in recent weeks, and have been much more consistent on home soil. While boasting a highly creative and potent attacking quartet, their opponents have been below-par away from home which should play into their hands at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke City are 21/10 to win against Liverpool, but they won’t be taking Liverpool’s poor form on face value. The Potters will have to work hard to get one over Jurgen Klopp’s side, but the formbook suggests the cup tie should go their way this week.

Liverpool’s porous defence can’t handle Stoke’s attacking threat

City are coming off the back of four wins from their last six home games in the Premier League, and have beaten the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Everton in the division this season too. Hughes is at his best in the big games as he will make Stoke hard to break down.

And with individual brilliance from the likes of Bojan Krkic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic, Stoke are sure to pose Liverpool a serious threat. City beat Luton Town, Fulham, Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday to make it to the Capital One Cup semi-final, and will be prioritising this week’s game in regard to squad selection. It will be their strongest eleven to face Liverpool which could well see the Reds come unstuck.

Liverpool are struggling of late. Under new manager Jurgen Klopp, the Merseysiders just can’t go on a run of positive results without a defeat setting them back. Away from home, the Reds have been woeful in the Premier League, conceding too many goals and enduring too many defeats.

Travel-sick Reds in trouble?

From their last four away games in the Premier League, Liverpool have lost three of them, conceding seven goals, while scoring just once. Such form could play into Stoke’s hands on Tuesday, which is why they will smell blood. City have won four of their last five head-to-heads against Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium, and the first leg clash this week could well go the same way.

Victory for the Potters would see them take a valuable aggregate lead into the second leg at Anfield later this month, which could potentially lead to a trip to Wembley to face either Everton or Manchester City in the final. But can they pick up a home win against Liverpool on Tuesday?