It’s two days until Christmas, but more importantly – just four until Liverpool play again!
We’ve got a home tie with Stoke City on December 27th, and with all our rivals playing on Boxing Day, we’ll likely have some points to make up.
Joe Allen will make his first return to Anfield, but a few of his best team-mates are unavailable, thankfully for Jurgen Klopp.
Marko Arnautovic, the dazzling Austrian winger, was sent off last time against Southampton so is suspended for the trip to Merseyside. (Odd how often this happens before festive fixtures, isn’t it?!)
SEE MORE:
Liverpool should take advantage of PSG’s Draxler signing by acquiring one of their South Americans
Stephen Ireland, Jack Butland, Phil Bardsley and Geoff Cameron all have long-term injuries, although Ibrahim Affelay should be fit, so will likely start on one flank with Xherdan Shaqiri on the other.
Stoke started the season dreadfully, but have really turned around their fortunes. In fact, if the Premier League table was based on everyone’s last ten games, they’d be in the top four, along with ourselves, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Mark Hughes’ men will be compact and feisty, but we’ve proven we can break down even the most stubborn defences. Providing we stay tight at the back, the three points are there for the taking.