Xherdan Shaqiri curls in free-kick (Video)

Xherdan Shaqiri has taken full advantage of Hull’s defensive lapses by lashing another lethal left-footed shot for his second of the game, this time from a free kick.

Hull’s nervy and unsure defending has cost them dearly and Xherdan Shaqiri was more than willing to punish them for their blunders. Curtis Davies, after Hull’s inability to clear from multiple attempts, made contact with Shaqiri just outside of the box. Shaqiri wrong-footed David Marshall from the resulting free kick.

The Swiss national dipped his effort into the bottom right hand corner. Not unlike his first of the game, Shaqiri struck the ball purely and with venomous intent. The 25-year-old midfielder is teeming with confidence and looks like scoring every time he has time to set up on that missile of a left foot.

Deserving to trail 2-0, Hull have afforded Stoke way too much time on the ball. Hull look out of sorts and are playing the kind of nervous, tentative soccer people would expect from a team near the relegation zone. They’re not in the relegation zone yet, but it can’t be long before they enter the unenviable grouping.

Stoke have gone through much of the game untroubled and will be looking to sure up their defense to secure all three points. A vital clash at the bottom of the Premier League, Stoke can ill afford to let Hull City back into the game.

Next: Have a look at our Week 8 power rankings

Stoke will leapfrog Hull in the standings with a win, as Hull will be stuck on seven points. Stoke will get some much needed breathing room as they climb the table. They’ll have their sights on the top half of the table, which is where both Mark Hughes and Stoke City supporters feel they belong.

A couple of more results like this, especially in six-point games with teams in their close proximity, will see Stoke in more familiar territory in the Premier League standings.