Liverpool target Wembley with Capital One Cup coup over Stoke

“It’s a great game for us. It is a cup semi-final for goodness sake and if we can’t get up for that there’s something wrong somewhere, so I anticipate it will be a completely different performance on Tuesday,” declared the Stoke boss.

Hughes was fully aware of the struggles Liverpool have had defensively, highlighted by conceding four against Alex Neil’s Canaries most recently, and odds of 11/4 can be had on there being 4.5 goals struck at Anfield.

“Yes there’s a lot of goals being scored against Liverpool but they also have the ability to score at the other end too so you have to be mindful of that,” he continued.

“Going there is about making sure our focus is exactly what it needs to be for Tuesday and if it is we will go close.”

Klopp gunning for Wembley fix

After seeing his team sensationally edge out Norwich, German coach Klopp admitted he is working hard to end defensive frailties, as the record eight-time winners of this competition face a side previously regarded for their astute abilities from set-plays.

“It makes me sound crazy when I say we defended better. The first ball we defended better, but then we made the next fault. That is how life is: you fix one problem, you have got another one,” outlined Klopp.

“Now we have to solve this and hopefully the two days to the Stoke game are enough for this.”

Bojan boosts Potters’ prospects

Jordan Ibe’s cool first leg finish is what separates the sides going into this semi-final second leg, and he is 7/4 to strike in normal time again, while in-form Brazilian Roberto Firmino is 7/2 to open proceedings, after doing so last time out.

Meanwhile, Adam Lallana is 6/1 to score the game’s last goal in 90 minutes, following his last-gasp Norwich winner, with both teams available at 28/1 to reach the final with a penalty shoot-out victory.

For the visitors though, Bojan will be a massive boost in morale and confidence, with the former Barcelona forward 11/4 to dispatch in 90 minutes and his fellow returning attacker Arnautovic is 7/2 to make a goal scoring impact anytime.

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Coral’s top tip: Back Stoke City’s returning Bojan Krkic to score in 90 minutes at 11/4.