PREM: Liverpool v Stoke City preview

Liverpool v Stoke City preview

Liverpool central defender Joel Matip is struggling to be fit after missing the last two matches with an ankle injury.

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.

Ibrahim Afellay is set to make his long-awaited return to the Stoke squad.

The Dutch midfielder has been out since suffering knee ligament damage in April but he resumed training in October and played 63 minutes for the under-23s last week and is now ready for a first-team comeback.

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.

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes says "We are under no illusions as to how good they both are and how difficult the matches will be for us, but we have to go into the games with real belief.

"Not many people are thinking we have a chance of gaining positive results but that certainly isn't the case within our camp.

"Of course they have players who can hurt us, but we have players who can hurt them too. We went to Liverpool last year and beat them and we also got our first point at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League so we know we can go to these places and be positive."