Stoke City

Stoke Boss Mark Hughes Admits 'We Aren't Safe Yet' Following Liverpool Defeat

?Stoke City manager Mark Hughes admitted that his side are not yet safe from relegation after his side’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.

Jonathan Walters headed the Potters in front just before the break but a second-half fightback from Liverpool ensured the visitors took away all three points – with both goals coming from Brazilian substitutes Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho.

The defeat was Stoke’s fourth consecutive loss and leaves them on 36 points – five places and eight points above the relegation places. But Hughes is not convinced they are completely safe from the drop yet.

?Speaking after the game, he said: “We need more points on the board, that’s clear.”

“We have got a huge game next week here again (against Hull) and we need to get the job done.

“We knew we had to get through this period and hopefully get a decent return – and we haven’t quite managed that.


“Performances have been ok, but details is where we are falling down.”

Hughes was especially positive about his side’s first-half display but rued the missed opportunities they had during the match.

He added: “I felt certainly first half we put in a good performance and were 1-0 to the good and good value for that.

Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City - Premier League

“Clearly, they were always going to make changes at half-time and bring in a couple of more accomplished and regular starters and they were dominant for maybe 10 to 15 minutes and during that time unfortunately we conceded.

“We have got to be clinical and clear minded, not just today, but a little bit in midweek (at Burnley) it was a similar story. So it’s a little bit hard to take.”