Good evening, folks. Welcome along to our liveblog of today’s only fixture in the Premier League, which sees Liverpool host Stoke City at Anfield at 5.15pm.
We’ll keep you updated on events from Merseyside throughout the game. If you’d like to get involved, contact us on Twitter (@Football_ie and @The42_ie), via e-mail (pauldollery@the42.ie) or pass on your views in the comments section below.
Before we go any further, let’s take a look at how the two teams will line up.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Mane, Firmino, Origi. Subs: Karius, Sturridge, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Ejaria, Woodburn.
Stoke City: Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, M. Indi, Pieters; Diouf, Allen, Whelan, Imbula, Walters; Crouch. Subs: Given; Bony, Afellay, Adam, Shaqiri, Bojan, Ramadan.
What’s at stake in this one?
Well, following their away wins against Middlesbrough and Everton, another three points for Liverpool will send them back into second place ahead of Manchester City, who they play on New Year’s Eve.
If they avoid defeat, Stoke will move from 12th place into the top half of the table.
It’s underway at Anfield.
Allen, Crouch, Johnson. Three former Liverpool players in Stoke’s starting line-up tonight…
After Stoke waste a free-kick in midfield, Mane’s cross from the right is just too long for Firmino.
Liverpool win a corner. Milner takes it short before Henderson fires over from just outside the box.
Good effort by Firmino is comfortably saved by Grant. All Liverpool so far.
Milner darts into the box but Henderson’s chip over the top is a little too heavy.
Good cross into the box by Walters but Mignolet claims it.
GOAL! Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 (Walters, 12)
Against the run of play Ireland’s Jonathan Walters puts Stoke ahead. Walters got his head on a Pieters cross from the left to beat Mignolet — who possibly should have done better — at the near post.
Milner has a go from about 25 yards but it’s well off target.
Great chance for Allen to score against his former club but Mignolet makes a vital save.
Walters and Crouch starting to cause problems for a Liverpool defence that doesn’t look convincing.
There’s Stevie G in the stands…
Good move between Mane and Lallana brings Liverpool a corner, before Crouch clears a Firmino effort off the line.
Diouf hobbles off injured following a tackle on Mane but it looks like he’ll be able to continue.
That man Jonathan Walters has made the difference so far…
Stoke have really settled since scoring, with Joe Allen looking particularly impressive in the middle of the park.
Pieters broke for an excellent opportunity there for Stoke but Clyne did brilliantly to prevent the opening.
Origi heads down a cross from the left but there’s no Liverpool in the box to capitalise.
GOAL! Liverpool 1 Stoke City 1 (Lallana, 35)
Liverpool are back on level terms. Mane’s cross from the right came off Johnson but Lallana was on hand to hammer the ball home from a tricky angle.
Allen booked for Stoke for a foul on Wijnaldum, before Firmino fires the ball just over the crossbar for Liverpool. The home side have got their tails up again.
Milner’s cross from the left is claimed by Grant.
Milner and Klavan try to keep tabs on Allen…
Great run forward down the right from Mane but he inadvertently brings it over the by-line.
GOAL! Liverpool 2 Stoke City 1 (Firmino, 44)
Firmino given too much time inside the box after receiving a pass from Milner, before sending the ball home with his left foot off the base off the post.
Mane almost doubles Liverpool’s advantage but his left-footed shot is dragged just wide.
Half-time: Liverpool 2 Stoke City 1
That was a very enjoyable first half. Back shortly for more.
The action has resumed at Anfield.
A paddy-cap-wearing Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is an interested spectator at Anfield ahead of his side’s clash with Liverpool on New Year’s Eve…
Milner plays a nice one-two with Origi before blazing his shot wide.
Stoke enjoying some good moments as they attack the Kop, as Liverpool clear a corner engineered by Joe Allen.
Mane’s cross is half-cleared before Lallana’s shot is deflected out for a corner.
GOAL! Liverpool 3 Stoke City 1 (Imbula OG, 59)
Origi’s cross was about to be tucked away by Mane but Imbula ended up knocking it into his own next as he slid in to intervene.
Milner crosses from the left, Clyne heads towards goal but it’s cleared off the line.
Sturridge and Can are on for Liverpool in place of Origi and Lallana.
GOAL! Liverpool 4 Stoke City 1 (Sturridge, 71)
Just seconds after he was introduced, Daniel Sturridge gets his first Premier League goal of the season and Liverpool’s 100th Premier League goal under Jurgen Klopp. The England striker capitalises on a sloppy back-pass from Shawcross, rounds goalkeeper Grant and tucks the ball home into an empty net.
Liverpool are letting loose now. If Stoke aren’t careful it could turn into a rout.
Lovren tees up Firmino from just a few yards out but it rebounds off the striker and away from danger.
Stoke substitute Afellay hits a cracker from just outside the box but it dips over the crossbar.
Liverpool still pressing for a fifth as the game entering its closing stages. No sign whatsoever of a Stoke revival.
Here’s Sturridge getting in for the fourth…
Three additional minutes to be played in this one.
Can’s cross from the left is just too high for Wijnaldum.
Full-time: Liverpool 4 Stoke City 1
Job done for Liverpool. They’re back into second place above Manchester City, who visit Anfield on Saturday.
