English Premier League: Liverpool host Stoke City before trip to Rome

Liverpool plays host to Stoke City this weekend in what could prove to be somewhat of a test as Jurgen Klopp is certain to make rotations to his starting eleven. The mission for Liverpool is simple; don’t drop points.

It’s clearly obvious Klopp will be forced to make rotations to his starting eleven vs. Stoke with one eye fixated on Liverpool’s all-important second leg in Rome. The three-goal advantage is fantastic on paper, but Roma has shown before that they have what it takes to overturn such a deficit in the Champions League.

With the injuries to the likes of Emre Can, Adam Lallana, and most recently, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Liverpool’s midfield options are running quite thin at the moment. Klopp is likely to make the majority of his changes at the front and in his back line.

Striking the balance, but getting the job done for Liverpool

Nathaniel Clyne, Ragnar Klavan, and Alberto Moreno could slot into the back four while both Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke will have a fair shot at starting up top. Sadio Mane was also seen entering and exiting Liverpool’s spire hospital on Thursday with a slight limp. He remains a doubt vs. Stoke with his potential fitness in question.

Regardless of how Klopp decides to set up his starting eleven, three points at Anfield against Stoke will almost certainly guarantee them a top-four finish in the league. Chelsea simply have way too much ground to make up to catch up with the Reds.

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The impossible escape from relegation for Stoke City

It will take quite a miracle for Stoke to stay in the Premier League next season. They’re four points behind 17th-placed Swansea City, who still have a match in hand.  For Paul Lambert’s men, it will absolutely have to be three wins from their next three matches with help from elsewhere if they’re to have any shot at survival.

Their record at Anfield certainly won’t be doing them any favors heading into Saturday. The Potters are winless in their last eleven matches in front of the Kop. Paul Lambert is confident he can break this streak.

For Stoke, the fact that Liverpool is likely to make a handful of rotations should give them some sort of hope that they can really take the game to them.  There couldn’t be a better circumstance for Stoke to try and nip a result at Anfield. They need to try and take full advantage of that.

Possible starting lineups

Liverpool: GK Karius – DEF Moreno, Klavan, Van Dijk, Clyne – MID Henderson, Wijnaldum, Milner – FWD Firmino, Ings, Solanke

Stoke City: GK Butland –DEF Pieters, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Bauer – MID Allen, Ndiaye, Sobi, Shaqiri –FWD Diouf, Crouch