It is 10th versus 11th at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow afternoon as Stoke City welcome Everton in the Premier League.
Both sides were involved in 3-0 scorelines in midweek, with Stoke looking to bounce back after being comfortably beaten at Old Trafford, while Everton earned a much-needed win over Newcastle United.
Stoke
© Getty Images
The Potters were well and truly beaten on Tuesday night as Manchester United produced arguably their best performance of the season in putting three past Mark Hughes's side.
Stoke are enduring their worst run of the season having lost four games in a row in all competitions, failing to score in the last five since they put three past 10-man Norwich City last month.
In the Premier League, the Potters have failed to score in any of their last three matches. Another blank tomorrow would be the first time since March 1985 - when they went eight games without a goal - that they have gone four top-flight games in a row without scoring.
The last two defeats - both 3-0 against United and league leaders Leicester City - were away from home and things have been better at the Britannia, with Hughes's men winning five and losing only two of their last nine Premier League games at home.
Despite the recent dip in form, Stoke signalled their intent as a football club with serious buying power last week when they made another club-record signing with the £18.3m capture of Giannelli Imbula from Porto, a player seen as a long-term replacement for Steven N'Zonzi, who left last summer.
Contract negotiations are also ongoing with Marko Arnautovic, whose current deal will reportedly trigger a £12.5m release clause if it is not extended before the end of the season.
Recent Premier League form: WLWDLL
Recent form (all competitions): WDLLLL
Everton
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A resounding win in midweek, but the Toffees have only won two of their last 11 Premier League matches and both of those were against Newcastle.
Ross Barkley put two penalties away against the Magpies and he has now scored eight league goals already this season, more than he has managed in any Premier League campaign in his career.
Three points eased the pressure on Roberto Martinez and he was clearly in the mood for celebrating last night when he was filmed dancing exuberantly at a Jason Derulo concert.
It is hard to imagine that Martinez will be Ridin' Solo anytime soon, but Everton do need to build on the midweek win and get themselves up into the top half of the table where many believe a squad of their capability should be.
Everton have drawn two more games than anyone else in the top flight and seven of their 11 stalemates have come away from home, with only one defeat coming at Arsenal.
While Stoke spent the most money on one player in the January transfer window with Imbula, Everton made the second-biggest splash on deadline day by forking out £13.5m to sign Oumar Niasse from Lokomotiv Moscow.
Recent Premier League form: LDDDLW
Recent form (all competitions): DDLLWW
Team News
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Hughes said today that Imbula is available to make his debut, although it would be a surprise to see him start against the Toffees.
Other changes could be in the offing given Stoke's dip in form, with Xherdan Shaqiri likely to return, especially given his performance in the reverse at Goodison a little over a month ago when Stoke won a ding-dong battle 4-3.
If Shaqiri does return, it could be at the expense of Peter Crouch, who is hoping to make his 400th Premier League appearance in this match and will become the 25th Englishman to reach this landmark.
In defence, Hughes has a problem with Marc Muniesa the club's only 100% fit senior centre-back. Philipp Wollscheid could still play, even though he limped off in midweek.
Everton also have problems in defence, with goalkeeper Tim Howard and centre-back John Stones likely to again miss out.
Further forward Gerard Deulofeu, who has scored in both of his Premier League appearances against Stoke, could return in place of Tom Cleverley.
Top-scorer Romelu Lukaku is a doubt having come off at half time against Newcastle with a back problem, although Martinez is hopeful that the Belgian will be fit to start at the Britannia.
Stoke possible starting lineup:
Butland; Johnson, Muniesa, Pieters, Bardsley; Whelan, Afellay; Arnautovic, Shaqiri, Walters; Bojan
Everton possible starting lineup:
Joel; Coleman, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; Deulofeu, Barkley, Lennon; Lukaku
Head To Head
Stoke have won three successive league matches against Everton and are unbeaten in four against the Toffees.
Looking at recent meetings in detail, the last goal of the game in three of the last four Premier League matches between these two has been a penalty and on all three occasions it has changed the result.
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We say: Stoke 2-2 Everton
Stoke are struggling for wins and goals at the moment, but facing an Everton side who struggle for clean sheets themselves might be the chance to end the losing run, although a win might be too much of an ask.
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