{"id":12338,"date":"2017-04-14T16:31:14","date_gmt":"2017-04-14T16:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.violetsport.com\/2017\/04\/14\/stoke-city-vs-hull-city-preview-key-battle-team-news-prediction-and-more\/"},"modified":"2017-04-14T16:31:14","modified_gmt":"2017-04-14T16:31:14","slug":"stoke-city-vs-hull-city-preview-key-battle-team-news-prediction-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.violetsport.com\/?p=12338","title":{"rendered":"Stoke City vs Hull City Preview: Key Battle, Team News, Prediction and More"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Stoke City host Hull City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday looking to secure their first victory in four games following defeats from Chelsea, Leicester, Burnley and Liverpool.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Potters have lost only two league games at\u00a0home and should be confident about adding another win on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hull remain a much improved side from that of the beginning of the season, however they remain placed only two points above relegation zone and with only one away win in the league this season,\u00a0Marco Silva’s side will be desperate to make it two on Saturday.\u00a0<\/inline><\/p>\n\n

Classic Encounter<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Hull<\/div>\n

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Two moments of magic from Xherdan Shaqiri secured a comfortable\u00a0victory for Stoke City in this seasons reverse fixture.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old was a menace for the entire ninety minutes as he continually opened up the Tigers defence and in a game which lacked poise,\u00a0his two shots from outside the box were the touch of class needed to send Stoke home with three points.<\/p>\n

The result on match-day nine\u00a0left Hull with four successive home defeats and the Potters were unbeaten in four.<\/p>\n\n

Key Battle<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stoke Attack vs Hull Defence<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Hull<\/div>\n

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It may seem straightforward, attack vs defence, but the Tigers have the second worst defence in the league – behind only Swansea –\u00a0and have conceded the most goals away from home (38) this season.\u00a0<\/inline><\/p>\n

Although Stoke are not prolific scorers they are more than capable of turning up the pressure through Shaqiri,\u00a0<\/inline>Arnautovic and\u00a0<\/inline>Berahino and if the visitors are to take any points on Saturday they must limit the time and space to Stoke’s creative attackers.\u00a0<\/inline><\/p>\n\n

Team News<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joe Allen will be missing from action for two weeks\u00a0after suffering a hamstring injury in his side’s loss to Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Jack Butland is a doubt to make his return to first team action this week,\u00a0but Mark Hughes could be tempted to include the England international on the bench.<\/p>\n

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\"FBL-ENG-PR-STOKE-LIVERPOOL\"<\/div>\n

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Silva admitted\u00a0Harry Maguire is touch and go for this weekend after limping off against Middlesbrough with a knee injury, whilst\u00a0Dieumerci Mbokani is back in contention following six weeks out, as is Tom Huddlestone.<\/p>\n

Ryan Mason, Will Keane and Moses Odubajo all remain sidelined.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Predicted Lineups<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stoke City (4-4-2): <\/strong>Grant, Pieters, Martins Indi, Shawcross, Johnson, Arnautovic, Whelan, Cameron, Shaqiri, Berahino, Walters<\/p>\n

Hull City (4-4-1-1): <\/strong>Jakupovic, Robertson, Ranocchia, Dawson, Elmohamady, Grosicki, Clucas, N’Diaye, Markovic, Evandro, Hernandez<\/p>\n

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Prediction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hull have had an impressive run of results with\u00a0nine points secured out\u00a0of a possible fifteen, with Stoke only managing one in the same time.<\/p>\n

However, with only one away win this season and one victory over\u00a0Stoke in the Premier League,\u00a0a tight and cagey match will result in a win for the home side.<\/inline><\/p>\n

Stoke City 2 – 1 Hull City\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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