Liverpool will look to leapfrog Manchester City in second place as it hosts Stoke City at Anfield in the English Premier League. Sitting just two points behind City, but with a game in hand, Jurgen Klopp's men will look for nothing less than a victory.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was quoted by BBC as saying: "Stoke is a bit between Everton and Man City. The second child if you want.
"It's not important when [Stoke] beat us last time. It's not important about the history...
"Everybody is on fire, we are all on track, that's a really good thing. Stoke have the same idea. Very, very important game, I'm really looking forward to it. Atmosphere changes everything, hopefully all our supporters are re-charged after the 25th and 26th, full of good food and in the best mood for this game."
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes: "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."
Team news
Stoke's Ibrahim Afellay could feature for the first time since suffering knee ligament damage in April. But forward Marko Arnautovic is still suspended after being sent off against Southampton earlier this month.
Liverpool defender Joel Matip is not expected to play despite making a good recovery from an ankle problem.
Playmaker Philippe Coutinho is on the mend after an ankle injury but is unlikely to make his target of playing again before the new year.
Saints v Spurs
In the other fixture of the day, fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur will travel to Southampton as it attempts to give itself breathing space between it and Manchester United, which is behind only on goal difference.
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