Liverpool v Stoke: Reds aim to strengthen grip on top-four spot

Jurgen Klopp is not planning to make wholesale changes when Liverpool face Stoke on Saturday lunchtime, live on Sky Sports.

Having beaten Roma 5-2 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, the Reds might have been expected to rest players ahead of the return leg on Wednesday.

However, with a top-four place in the Premier League not yet guaranteed, Reds boss Klopp said: "We could play the same team that we played against Roma, if the players are available.

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"There will not be a thousand changes. It's a Premier League game and it's very important for both sides."

Liverpool have three league games left to play and are eight points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea, who have a game in hand.

They were held to a 2-2 draw by West Brom last time out after conceding two late goals.

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Stoke are in desperate need of victory as they look to stay in the Premier League. They are four points from safety with three games remaining and have only won once this year.

"We're still in the fight," said manager Paul Lambert. "I've never really had a problem to pick them up - I really haven't.

"We had a chat to see how they felt and, regarding their attitude and everything I've asked them to do, there's no way I can ask for anymore."

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Team news

Klopp has a selection dilemma with only three fit senior midfielders available.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the latest to have his season ended after he sustained knee ligament damage in the midweek win over Roma. That could lead to an opening for youngster Ben Woodburn to feature alongside Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum.

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Sadio Mane is unlikely to be risked after he was pictured visiting a private hospital on Thursday, although Klopp insisted the Senegal international's problem was not serious.

Stoke are set to be without right-back Glen Johnson. The defender suffered a recurrence of his groin injury during last weekend's draw with Burnley so Kurt Zouma is likely to deputise.

Forward Eric Choupo-Moting (groin) and defender Kostas Stafylidis (fractured rib) remain on the sidelines.

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Opta facts

• Liverpool have never lost in 54 previous home top-flight games against Stoke (W43 D11 L0) - the longest ever unbeaten home run by one team against another in top-flight history.
• In all competitions, Stoke have won just four of their 70 away games against the Reds (D13 L53), winning 1-0 in a League Cup semi-final second leg match in January 2016, and three times in the second tier in the 1950s.
• Stoke have never scored a second-half Premier League goal at Anfield in nine attempts - in fact, in their last 16 league visits, they've only scored in the second half once, with Paul Bracewell scoring in March 1983.
• No side has conceded the first goal of a Premier League game more often than Stoke this season (21), while only Manchester City (28) have opened the scoring more often than Jurgen Klopp's side (25).
• Paul Lambert has never lost an away match at Anfield as a manager, winning three and drawing two of his five matches in all competitions.
• Mohamed Salah has scored three goals from just four shots against Stoke in the Premier League, scoring with both shots against them in the reverse fixture.

Merson's prediction

This is a great time for Stoke. They've been a bit unlucky if I'm being honest, they just haven't been able to get over the line.

This is a hard one because Liverpool are usually a banker but they are going to rest everybody ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg with Roma. I'm going to go with Liverpool but I don't know why!

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)

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