Tuesday 27 December 2016 17:12, UK
Liverpool defender Joel Matip is struggling to be fit for the visit of Stoke after missing the last two matches with an ankle injury.
The Cameroonian's absence would likely mean Ragnar Klavan will partner Dejan Lovren in defence once again, having played together in the 1-0 win over Everton last week.
Liverpool head into Tuesday's clash with Stoke, which is live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 5pm, on the back of two league victories, while their unbeaten home run of 15 league games (W9 D6 L0) is their longest record in the competition.
For Stoke, Ibrahim Afellay is set to make his long-awaited return to the squad at Anfield having suffered knee ligament damage in April.
The Dutch midfielder resumed training in October and played 63 minutes for the under-23s last week and is now ready for a first-team comeback.
Team news
Striker Daniel Sturridge made a decisive impact coming off the bench in Monday's Merseyside derby win but is likely to be among the substitutes again with Jurgen Klopp likely to persist with Divock Origi.
Playmaker Philippe Coutinho has not yet returned to team training after ankle ligament damage and remains doubtful for the New Year's Eve visit of Manchester City.
Marko Arnautovic is suspended and Phil Bardsley and Geoff Cameron (both knee) remain out while Jack Butland looks set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines following another operation to get to the bottom of his ankle problem.
Opta stats
Liverpool have won five of their last six Premier League games against Stoke, losing the other 6-1 in May 2015.
Stoke beat Liverpool in the 2nd leg of their League Cup semi-final last January 1-0, though they were eliminated on penalties. This ended a run of 36 games without a win in any competition at Anfield. They then lost 4-1 in April in the Premier League there.
The last time that they went on a longer run at Anfield in the Premier League was a 31-game unbeaten streak between December 2007 and August 2009.
Joe Allen has scored five goals in 16 Premier League appearances for Stoke City this season; one more than he scored in his entire Liverpool career in the competition (four goals in 91 games).
Mark Hughes has never won a Premier League game as a manager at Anfield (W0 D4 L6). He also suffered his heaviest defeat as a player in the competition there; 1-7 for Southampton in January 1999.
Stoke have failed to score in 11 of their previous 17 trips to Merseyside in the Premier League (against Liverpool and Everton combined).
Sadio Mane has had a hand in eight goals in his last nine Premier League appearances (five goals, three assists).
Merson's predictions
I like Stoke, they're a decent team and they probably should have got something from the game at Arsenal last week, they were bang unlucky. They threw three points away against Leicester but I suspect them to give Liverpool a good game. Liverpool have bounced back from their draw to West Ham well though, they should be just too strong for the Potters.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)
Betting
Liverpool are warm 30/100 favourites to get the better of Stoke on Tuesday, with the draw 9/2 and the Potters right out at 17/2 to spring a shock.
Liverpool are 3/1 to win by exactly two goals, and 15/8 to prevail by three or more at Anfield. No surprise to see home players dominating the first goalscorer betting, with Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi leading the way at 7/2 from Roberto Firmino (4/1) and Sadio Mane (9/2).
Wilfried Bony is rated the visitors' likeliest source of goals at 11/1 to score first and 100/30 anytime.
Watch Liverpool v Stoke live on December 27 from 5pm, Sky Sports 1 HD. Sky Q 2TB customers can watch the game in Ultra HD. Visit sky.mnosports.com/uhd for details.
