Good evening and welcome to live coverage of Liverpool v Stoke City from Anfield.

Skrtel decides to have a go at goal from distance. Ball well wide of the target with the outside of a foot.

Faye comes across to smash the ball away from Kuyt. Alert defending.

Lucas and Walters collide, but Stoke have a free-kick. Delivery is good from Pennant, breaks to Walters in the box, but he has walloped that shot over the bar. Chance gone.

Wilkinson comes up to take a long throw-in. Met by Carew before Skrtel charges down a Whitehead shot. Decent play by Stoke.

Johnson tries to dash down the left flank, but fails to reach a pass. Has been a bright enough opening by the home side.

It was Diao who got that ball off the line. Terrific spot of defending as Begovic was beaten there.

Great corner by Gerrard. Met by Kyrgiakos, but Stoke scramble the ball off the line. So close to the opener. Stoke living dangerously.

Stoke wearing blue strips. Liverpool in traditional red. Stoke pushing up the park as much as possible. Huth comes in to tackle Gerrard, but Liverpool have a corner.

Meireles tries to play in Kuyt. Just too much pace on the pass. Interesting to see Kuyt back up front as the lone striker.

Second of three games in six games for Stoke having won 1-0 against Wolves in the FA Cup at the weekend. Higginbotham whacks the ball long to Carew. Liverpool deal with it.

Liverpool get us off and running at Anfield.

Liverpool have 48 wins, Stoke with 20 wins and there have been 27 draws in the 95 previous meetings of these clubs.

Players out on the park. The teams shake hands and we are almost ready to go...before we listen to You'll Never Walk Alone, of course.........

Andy Carroll is being introduced to the Kop at Anfield. He is wearing a dark suit, and is getting a standing ovation. The £35million striker looking relaxed and happy with his lot. His team-mates will be hoping to be sporting a similar look after this match.

STOKE TEAM NEWS: Stoke make five changes to the side that beat Wolves in the FA Cup fourth round. They will opt for a 4-5-1 formation with John Carew starting up front on his own. Jermaine Pennant, Salif Diao, Mark Wilson, Dean Whitehead and Jonathan Walters return to the starting line-up. Andy Wilkinson and Danny Higginbotham both passed late fitness tests and are fit to start.

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS: Dirk Kuyt starts up front with Fabio Aurelio in central midfield. Jamie Carragher returns to the bench after his period out with a dislocated shoulder. New £35million signing Andy Carroll misses out due to injury.

Liverpool have won six and lost just one of their last eight Premier League games at Anfield. Only Chelsea and Manchester United have picked up more points at home than Liverpool going into this set of fixtures.

Stoke haven’t scored in their two Premier League visits to Anfield. The Potters have lost 27 and won none of their last 30 visits to Anfield. The Potters are the only team in the top flight not to have scored a goal in the opening 15 minutes of a game.

The referee is Anthony Taylor of Cheshire.

Stoke: Begovic, Wilkinson, Faye, Huth, Higginbotham, Pennant, Wilson, Diao, Whitehead, Carew, Walters Subs: Sorensen, Collins, Whelan, Jones, Fuller, Delap, Etherington

Teams: Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Lucas, Gerrard, Aurelio, Meireles, Kuyt Subs: Gulacsi, Suarez, Maxi, Carragher, Ngog, Poulsen, Shelvey