Liverpool v Stoke Venue: Anfield Date: Saturday, 20 September Kick-off: 1500 BSTCoverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM, 1485 MW and DAB, BBC Radio Stoke 94.6FM, 1503MW and DAB, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day

Liverpool full-back Fabio Aurelio hopes to recover from a calf injury in time to play, and striker Robbie Keane may be recalled to partner Fernando Torres.

Winger Albert Riera could replace Ryan Babel and Sami Hyypia may be brought in to help deal with Stoke's long throws.

Stoke defender Andrew Davies is sidelined and Amdy Faye is suspended.

Boss Tony Pulis could move Abdoulaye Faye back into defence and hand Glenn Whelan a starting place in midfield with Leon Cort missing out.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Aurelio, Dossena, Benayoun, Kuyt, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Alonso, Babel, Riera, Torres, Keane, Ngog, Agger, Deggen, Cavalieri.

Stoke (from): Sorensen, Griffin, Sonko, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Lawrence, Whelan, Olofinjana, Delap, Kitson, Fuller, Simonsen, Cort, Shawcross, Wilkinson, Tonge, Cresswell, Sidibe, Soares, Diao.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez: "We know that Stoke will be difficult opponents because they have just come into the Premier League and they will be keen to do well, particularly when they come to places like Anfield.

"Beating Manchester United last week was a good achievement and it will improve our confidence but now we have to try to beat Stoke.

"They play with a different style to United and they cause different kinds of problems but we must treat them with the same respect."

Stoke manager Tony Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke:"Two or three years ago to take this club to Anfield would have been beyond belief, now we have to make sure we go there and do ourselves proud.

"We will be giving it our best shot and if 11 players work hard enough then you never know.

"If you look at their players and the history of Liverpool Football Club you'd be frightened to death to turn up, but we have got to make sure we go there and enjoy it."

BIG-MATCH FACTSLiverpool and Stoke lock horns for the first time since the Merseysiders' 0-8 thrashing of the Potters in the fourth round of the Worthington League Cup on 29 November 2000 at the Britannia Stadium, when Robbie Fowler bagged a hat-trick.Liverpool, successful in Europe midweek, need to avoid defeat to go top of the table (Arsenal have the teatime fixture); victory would make it Liverpool's best ever start to a Premier League campaign.Stoke are facing back-to-back fixtures against Merseyside opposition, having been odd goal in five victims of Everton at the Britannia Stadium last Sunday.This match pits the second top against second bottom, the club with the joint least losses against the one with joint most, the second best defence against the second weakest, and the club with a 100% home league record against one without a point on the road.Stoke are Liverpool's 40th different opponents in the Premier League.The Reds are unbeaten in eight against Stoke in all competitions; they have won six (including the last three) and drawn two since Stoke's 2-0 top-flight success on 14 April 1984. It was one of three wins in their last seven games that season that helped ensure survival by two points.Distance between the clubs: 60 miles (97 kilometres)CLUB FORMLIVERPOOLClub stats2nd 10 pointsHighest achievable after Saturday's matches: 1stLowest could fall: 3rd2008-09 Premier League performance1. All five league and cup wins this season have been by a single goal.2. Unbeaten in 11 Premier League matches; won eight and drawn three (27 points out of 33) since losing 3-0, away to Manchester United on 23 March - their only defeat in 19.3. Won both league games this season in which the opposition have scored first.4. Need to score three more goals to become the third club to net 1,000 in the Premier League. Manchester United lead the way with 1,223 and Arsenal are second with 1,056.5. Challenging for an 11th successive home league win; their best run at Anfield since 1985 when 13 successive home victories were achieved, also spanning two seasons.6. Scored in each of the last 13 league games at Anfield and failed to find the net in one of 18 there; the 0-1 defeat to Manchester United on 16 December 2007.7. All but one of their five league goals have been scored in the last 10 minutes.8. Drawn the last three against Midlands' opponents, and not lost a Premier League fixture against a side from the heart of the nation since the 2-0 defeat, away to Birmingham on 12 February 2005.9. Last loss at Anfield to a club from the Midlands was on 6 November 2004; 0-1 to Birmingham.FixturesSTOKE CITYClub stats19th 3 pointsHighest achievable after Saturday's matches: 7thLowest could fall: 19th2008-09 Premier League performance1. Lost three of their four Premier League games under Tony Pulis.2. In danger of tumbling to three successive defeats in a single top-flight season for the first time since 1984-85, when their nightmare campaign ended with 10 successive losses.3. Only need two more victories to match the total of wins achieved in their last top-flight season in 1984-85.4. Three of their seven Premier League goals have been scored in the last 10 minutes.KEY PLAYER NOTESLIVERPOOLSquad profilesIf he scores:-Steven GERRARD will reach the milestone of 100 club career goals - all in Liverpool colours.If on the field from the outset:-Sami HYYPIA will be making his 300th career Premier League start - all in a Liverpool shirt.STOKE CITYSquad profilesIf selected:-Abdoulaye FAYE will be making his 100th appearance for an English club (Bolton, Newcastle and Stoke).Tom SOARES will be making his 150th career league appearance (Crystal Palace and Stoke).Carl DICKINSON will be making his 50th league appearance in a Stoke shirt.Richard CRESWELL will be playing on his 31st birthday.Jimmy PHILLIPS will be playing on his 19th birthday.Salif DIAO will be facing a former club. The 31 year old Senegal international midfielder made 61 appearances (37 in the league) and scored three goals (one league) for Liverpool between August 2002 and his move to Stoke in January 2007.Dominic MATTEO will be facing former colleagues. The 34 year old Scotland international defender made 155 appearances (127 in the league) and scored two goals (one league) for the Merseysiders from the outset of his professional career until signing for Leeds in August 2000.Suspended:-Amdy FAYE (two matches)HEAD TO HEADLiverpool did the double over Stoke when they last met for league action in 1984-85. Bill Asprey's bottom of the table strugglers lost 0-1 to a Ronnie Whelan winner at the Victoria Ground, and to Kenny Dalglish and Steve Nicol goals at Anfield (2-0).Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 53 wins, Stoke 26, Draws 27Prem: Liverpool 0 wins, Stoke 0, Draws 0at Liverpool onlyLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 41 wins, Stoke 3, Draws 9Prem: Liverpool 0 wins, Stoke 0, Draws 0

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