Liverpool vs Stoke preview

A month ago a visit to Anfield would have been somewhere we would have reasonably expected to come away with at least a point, but the arrival of King Kenny and their new mega signings this week have given the Kop some new found confidence - whether that confidence is justified we'll judge at the end of the season. But for now, the Potters will be looking for a first top flight win at Anfield in 117 years.

Tony Pulis told the official site that it would be an uphill battle if we're going to do the double over Liverpool: 'Although they have lost Torres, Suarez is a top, top replacement, and they have a number of other players who can hurt you.

'Beating them at our place was a special occasion, but I think a lot of sides were getting tremendous results against them back then.

'Things will be a lot different this time, but what we have to do is go there and give it our best shot. We know it's going to be tough.'

They've had the benefit of a week's R&R since their 1-0 win over Fulham, but still have to come to terms with the loss of Torres - that can be tempered with the arrival of Luis Suarez from Ajax and Andy Carroll from Newcastle. Carroll's debut will have to wait with the £35m striker still injured - shame!

The former Ajax striker will be expected to hit the ground running and continue to score at the same prodigious rate that saw him score 81 goals in 4 years for the Dutch club

Ryan Shawcross is suspended, Danny Higginbotham is still suffering from a hamstring problem and Mamady Sidibe is getting closer to full fitness.

He may be likely to be sitting on the bench, but at least we've still got our Ric.

No top flight win at Anfield since 1894? Aren't records there to be broken?

Sat 5th February: Sunderland (home) kick-off: 12.45pm

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