Potter ready for Liverpool reunion

Last updated : 09 September 2011 By AFP

Liverpool have enjoyed a solid start to the Premier League season, registering impressive wins over Arsenal and Bolton in their last two games before last weekend's international break.

But Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will be aware that Stoke have never lost to the Reds in the Premier League era, a remarkable run that Crouch is determined to help the Potters extend at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

"I know from being an opposing player that nobody enjoys coming here and playing against Stoke," said Crouch, who joined for £10 million from Spurs shortly before the closure of the transfer window.

"It's always an incredibly hard game to play in, so we have the belief that we can win the game.

"Liverpool have had a lot of changes there, but they have settled in very well and they have started the season extremely well.

"The players all seem to have fitted in to the system Kenny wants to play there and they look very dangerous going forward.

"But I look around our dressing room and we have some fantastic players in there as well.

"Hopefully I can repay them out on the pitch now with performances, and goals. I will give absolutely everything I have got in every game I play in, that is for sure."

Crouch is expected to start against Liverpool but fellow new signing Wilson Palacios is doubtful with a knee injury.

Cameron Jerome will be among the substitutes after playing only one game this season for former club Birmingham.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis said: "Wilson has been injured so we are not sure whether he will be fit to start on Saturday or whether we need to give him a couple of weeks to get him up and running.

"We are hoping Peter will hit the ground running and do smashing for us, and the same for Cameron."

Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Dalglish has rejected the public criticism of striker Andy Carroll by England manager Fabio Capello.

Carroll did not make the bench for England's Euro 2012 fixture with Bulgaria last week and Capello repeated his claim that Carroll is not fit enough and has to rein in his lifestyle.

However Dalglish refuted those ideas and insists Carroll is fit enough to become a Liverpool and England great.

"As we've said before Andy was not properly fit last season because of a knee injury but we have been pleased with his level of fitness this season because he has lost that injury," Dalglish said.

"I think Andy is very appreciative of advice from anyone who has a good standing in football.

"I think he appreciates Capello's advice because he has great respect for Fabio and Fabio has great respect for Andy."

Dalglish will take his squad to the Britannia Stadium with very few injury problems with Steven Gerrard the only member of his squad likely to be missing.

The talismanic Liverpool captain will not quite be ready for this fixture but he is recovering from his thigh complaint and Dalglish cannot wait to have him back and dictating the play once more in Liverpools midfield.

"He's not far away," Dalglish added.

"When Steven is ready to come back it will be a fantastic boost for everybody. The transfer window is shut, so for us it will be a real bonus because it will be like a new player coming back."

Source: AFP

Source: AFP