Matchday: Stoke vs Liverpool

Sotirios Kyrgiakos is likely to return for the visit to Stoke though according to Roy Hodgson the centre-back is still feeling after effects from the bout of tonsillitis which forced him out of matches with Chelsea and Wigan Athletic. Though their respective complaints have progressed the Liverpool manager says neither Joe Cole or Glen Johnson are in contention. Martin Kelly would probably return to the bench if Johnson were to return. Brad Jones is set to provide cover for Pepe Reina and be named as a substitute in place of Martin Hansen. Fabio Aurelio will join the Australian stopper as a replacement for his first involvement with the squad since late October. The Brazilian would make his first Premier League outing of the campaign if introduced. A late call will be made on Raul Meireles who left the field early during the week through illness. Daniel Agger remains a long term absentee. Stoke will welcome Ryan Shawcross back after the influential defender served a one-match suspension. Danny Higginbotham is expected to make way. Other than that change, plus the possible replacement of striker Ricardo Fuller with Tuncay, Tony Pulis is unlikely to alter the side which beat Birmingham City by the odd goal in five last Tuesday. Such a decision would see Jermaine Pennant face Liverpool for the first time since leaving Anfield. Mamady Sidibe has an Achilles tendon injury which may see him miss the entire campaign. The Reds may be unbeaten in their last four league matches but both sides have had testing seasons so far. The Potters can lay claim to some poor fortune and bad refereeing - with the exception of their midweek winner which appeared to include a handball in the build-up. Meanwhile, Liverpool have often been the architects of their own adversity. Though the Reds have also suffered poor decisions these have been isolated and there was a notable benefit from the officials in the opening goal at Anfield against Sunderland. The sides have met 120 times to date with Liverpool winning 61 games and drawing 33. 26 defeats have been suffered - 23 at Stoke - and just 14 victories have come in the Potteries. Three visits have been made to the Britannia Stadium. Liverpool debuting with an 8-0 win in the Worthington Cup which included a Robbie Fowler hat-trick during late November 2000. Since Stoke regained top flight status two seasons ago both Premier League matches have ended in draws. Stoke City from: Begovic, Huth, Faye, Shawcross, Collins, Pennant, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington, Jones, Tuncay, Fuller, Walters, Sorensen, Gudjohnsen, Wilkinson, Higginbotham, Whelan, Wilson Liverpool from: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky, Poulsen, Gerrard, Lucas, Maxi, Kuyt, Torres, Jones, Jovanovic, Ngog, Spearing, Kelly, Shelvey, Eccleston, Meireles Referee: Martin Halsey Kick-off is at 5.30pm