Liverpool-Stoke City Betting Preview: Potters to frustrate the Reds in a low-scoring match

The Premier League season kicks off this Saturday lunchtime, with Mark Hughes taking his side to Merseyside to face the Reds and our tipster is backing a tight affair

After a 90-day wait, Premier League action returns to our screens with Stoke travelling to Liverpool in the early kick off on Saturday.

Mark Hughes takes his side up to the north west of England for his first competitive game in charge of the Potters.

Liverpool come into this match after a turbulent summer trying to keep hold of thier star man. Luis Suarez has been in the headlines throughout the summer, as his transfer saga continues to ebb back and forth.

It has been a successful pre-season for the Reds though, with their only defeat coming in the last match against Celtic in Dublin last weekend. Paddy Power price them at 2/5 (1.40) to kick off their new season with a win.

Stoke have also looked good throughout pre-season, with Mark Hughes starting to win back some of the people who doubted him when he first took over.

Despite losing to Houston Dynamo in their first match on their USA Tour, they followed that up with victories against Dallas and Philadelphia Union.

The Potters haven’t been busy in the transfer window, but they look a completely different side under Hughes compared to the era under previous boss Tony Pulis. Paddy Power price them at a long 15/2 (8.50) to cause an upset against Liverpool on Saturday. The same firm price the draw at 7/2 (4.50).

A bet that stands out in this fixture is Under 2.5 goals at even money (2.00). Six of the last seven meetings between these two sides in the Premier League would have seen this bet pay out, with Stoke’s 3-1 home win last December the only exception.

It’s worth noting that since Stoke returned to the top flight in 2008, three of the five meetings at Anfield in the league have ended 0-0.

For those looking for more value, Stoke/Draw double chance at 2/1 (3.00) with Paddy Power is certainly worth investing in.

This bet would have paid out in all four last league matches between the sides, with Stoke winning four points from their two games against the Reds last season. With the Suarez factor likely to cause a distraction, expect Stoke to take full advantage of this situation.