Derby vs Stoke City - Championship

The history between Derby and Stoke City lends this Championship fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at Pride Park Stadium on April 6, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Ahead of the first leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off tie against Czech side Jablonec at Ibrox on Thursday, McInnes said: "I said that when I spoke to Lawrence.

Both Derby and Stoke City will be eager to build momentum when they meet in Championship. Derby are mired in a difficult campaign, DLLLL over their last five and a paltry win rate of 12.5% painting a bleak picture. Stoke City travel in decent nick, WWDWD in their last five and a win rate of 50% this season. The contrast in attacking output — 0.88 versus 1.63 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. If you're Arsenal and wanting to win the Premier League, and you take six points off those teams, then you're near-on winning the Premier League.

The tactical battle could prove decisive. Derby may lean on their home advantage to dictate the tempo, but Stoke City have shown they can be dangerous when allowed to play on their own terms. That radar allows City to retain control, momentum and possession in games, pinning opponents back in the tempered style Guardiola favoured.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. But the turning point for Kerolin follows the departure of forward Salma Paralluelo, a player similar in profile to her.

Predictions are tricky when the sides are this evenly matched, and small margins — a moment of quality, a slice of luck — could decide it either way. With the sides so closely matched, a 2-2 stalemate looks the most likely way this one ends. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Championship standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Liverpool's midfield wasn't great last year but I expect Florian Wirtz to have a better season, 100 per cent.