Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's Premier League clash between Stoke City and Liverpool! Both sides come into this match with their own goals for the final months of the season, with Stoke bidding for another top-half finish and Liverpool hopeful of securing a return to the Champions League. This match is likely to have a major bearing in both respects, and it promises to be an intriguing contest at the bet365 Stadium! First things first, let's check out the team news...

STOKE STARTING XI: Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Shaqiri, Allen, Cameron, Arnautovic; Walters, Berahino

STOKE SUBS: Given, Muniesa, Whelan, Adam, Diouf, Crouch, Ramadan

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Matip, Milner; Can, Wijnaldum, Alexander-Arnold, Woodburn; Origi

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Karius, Moreno, Grujic, Sturridge, Firmino, Lucas, Coutinho

We will have an in-depth look at those two teams a little later, but for now let's turn our attention to our hosts today. The big dilemma facing Mark Hughes at the moment is how to take Stoke to the next level following three consecutive ninth-placed finishes, and in truth this season has not shown much progression in that regard. The Potters currently sit 12th in the table and, while they are just one point off ninth-placed Southampton, it is very tight between quite a few teams in that area of league.

Heavy investment last season does not seem to have had the required impact, and Stoke are actually 10 points worse off this season than they were at the same stage of the previous campaign. Hughes will be warning his players that they are not yet safe from the threat of relegation either, although their eight-point gap to the bottom three should keep them at arm's length as they go in search of the four points they need to reach that magic 40-point mark.

Plenty of the teams below them in the table have shown signs of improvement in recent months, though, and even if Stoke have given themselves enough of a cushion to stay safe then Hughes will not want his side to allow their season to peter out. The Potters come into this match having lost their last three outings and having amassed just one point from the last 12 on offer in the top flight, a run of form which has seen them drop into the bottom half.

Another defeat today would see them fall to four on the bounce for the first time since September, when they made such a dreadful start to the campaign with only one point from their opening five matches. The Potters have also failed to score in their last two outings, and should they draw another blank today then it would be three on the bounce for the first time since February 2016. Putting the ball in the back of the net has been Stoke's biggest problem recently, though, with Hughes's side having failed to score in five of their last eight outings.

The biggest source of encouragement heading into today's match will be Stoke's record at home this season. Overall it has been relatively mixed in the league, with six wins, five draws and four defeats, but they have only lost one of their last nine in front of their own fans and that came courtesy of a late goal at the hands of league leaders Chelsea.

That defeat to Antonio Conte's side was their most recent league game here at the bet365 Stadium, though, which means that another loss today would see them fall to back-to-back defeats for the first time since their opening two home games of the season. Three of their four home league defeats this season have come against teams in the top four of the table, and Stoke are winless in 10 matches against teams currently in the top six this term, picking up just three points from a possible 30 in that time.

It is matches like these which Stoke will need to start winning more often if they are to make the next step, but Hughes may have to settle for regression this season. The Potters have amassed at least 50 points in their three seasons under the Welshman in the past, but they would need 14 points from their final seven games to achieve that total this time around - a very big ask.

Stoke are the type of team who are always capable of pulling off an unexpected result, though, and they will certainly fancy their chances today as Liverpool come to town. Unlike the Potters, Liverpool have managed to make progress this season and they are currently 12 points better off than at the same stage of last term as Jurgen Klopp bids to secure a return to the Champions League in his first full season as manager.

As things stand, it is looking quite good for the Reds. They currently sit third in the table and enjoy a six-point gap between themselves and Arsenal and Manchester United - who sit fifth and sixth respectively. However, both teams have two games in hand over Liverpool in which they could make that gap up, so it looks like it could go all the way down to the wire in one of the most competitive top-four races of recent years.

Liverpool's position could have been a lot more comfortable had they successfully seen out a win over Bournemouth on Wednesday, but for the second time this season they succumbed to a late comeback from the Cherries, who managed to come away from Anfield with a 2-2 draw. At one stage on Wednesday night Liverpool were level on points with Tottenham, but Bournemouth's equaliser coupled with Tottenham's late comeback against Swansea means that in the space of around 20 minutes the Reds went from level with Spurs to five points behind them. More importantly, though, it saw Liverpool miss the chance to move eight points clear of fifth place.

Still, things are looking better now than they were a few weeks ago following a dreadful start to 2017 during which time they won just two of 12 matches across all competitions. Liverpool are now unbeaten in their last five outings, including matches against Arsenal, Manchester City and Everton, and while the Bournemouth draw was a setback Liverpool have certainly shown signs of getting back to their best following the mid-season slump.

One of the more curious trends of Liverpool's season is their struggles against teams in the bottom half of the table compared to their very impressive record against the teams around them. Liverpool's last six Premier League defeats have all come against teams currently in the bottom half of the standings, while four of their five league losses this term have been at the hands of teams who began the day in the relegation zone - effectively the difference between them fighting for a top-four spot and the title.

Liverpool have only won half of their 16 matches against teams in the bottom half of the table this season, and there will be further concern amongst fans due to the Reds' away form of late. Liverpool are still searching for their first Premier League away win of 2017, picking up just three points from a possible 15 on the road since the turn of the year - including just one point from a possible nine away to teams in the bottom half of the table.

Liverpool's last league away win came against Everton before Christmas, but the Reds have only won one Premier League match outside the city of Liverpool since October - a 3-0 triumph over Middlesbrough in December. In all competitions their only away win in seven attempts so far in 2017 came against League Two side Plymouth Argyle in an FA Cup replay in January. Their troubles away from home go further back than that, though, with Klopp have only seen his side keep six clean sheets in 30 Premier League away games since arriving at Anfield.

It is certainly an interesting team selection from the visitors today, with Brazilian duo Coutinho and Firmino both left on the bench. Coutinho had been struggling with illness throughout the week, being forced off early during the draw with Bournemouth on Wednesday night and missing training on Thursday and Friday as a result. He is deemed well enough for a place on the bench, though, which suggests that he is at least on the mend.

More surprising is the fact that Firmino is also dropped to the bench today, with the Brazilian perhaps given a rest following a busy week immediately after his international exploits. His absence, coupled with that of Firmino, mean that there are rare starts for Alexander-Arnold and Woodburn in an unfamiliar Liverpool formation today.

With Lovren, Klavan and Matip all starting it could be the case that Klopp has opted for a 3-4-3 formation, with Clyne and Milner as the wing-backs, although the personnel suggests that it is more likely to be a 3-5-1-1 formation, with Origi leading the line. The Belgian has scored in back-to-back Premier League games now - against Everton off the bench and against Bournemouth last time out - and he may need to keep that up in Mane's absence.

With Henderson and Lallana, as well as Mane, Firmino and Coutinho all out today, Liverpool as missing half of the first first-choice team for this game, and the issue of squad depth has been raised in the past. Certainly, they don't seem to have the same strength in depth as a lot of their rivals around them in the table, and that is something they will have to look to improve should they achieve their goal of qualifying for the Champions League this season.

As for Stoke, their headline news is that Xherdan Shaqiri is back in the starting XI for his first appearance since January, and that will be a big boost for a team who have struggled for goals this season. The Swiss international's return is one of three changes made by Mark Hughes from the team that lost to Burnley on Tuesday, with Glen Johnson also coming back against his former club and Walters also included.

Liverpool fans will be sick of the sight of Walters, who always seems to up his game when he plays against the Reds. He has scored six goal against Liverpool in the Premier League, more than he has managed against any other club, including one in the reverse fixture in December. His role in the Stoke team has diminished a little in recent seasons, but he was always likely to start today if only for that record against Liverpool.

One player who would love to set himself on course for a similar record to that is Saido Berahino, but the former West Brom striker is really struggling at the moment. He has failed to score in his last 21 Premier League appearances, stretching back more than a year to February 2016. Hughes himself admitted that we may not see the best of him for Stoke until next season as he continues to get back up to the pace of the Premier League, but he leads the line again today.

Stoke had gone for a 3-4-3 system of sorts against Burnley, but they revert to a back four today with Muniesa having failed to recover from a knock enough to start. Johnson comes in in his place, with Pieters dropping back to make up the defensive quartet alongside Shawcross and Martins Indi. Allen is another who will come up against his former club, while Adam and Crouch are both also former Liverpool players on the Stoke bench today.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the bet365 Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction! This one is a difficult game to call, particularly considering Liverpool's team selection. Stoke are always capable of pulling off a result from somewhere against the big boys, and they will be buoyed by the fact that Liverpool are missing their three main attackers and their two main midfielders. I'll go for a 1-1 draw.

Liverpool's record at this ground is not as strong as you might expect considering the relative calibre of these two clubs, with the Reds having won just two of their previous eight Premier League visits, losing half of those. However, those two wins have both come in their last three league visits, while in all competitions they have won three of their last four outings here.

That includes two 1-0 wins at this stadium last season, first when Coutinho's late wonder goal sealed a narrow victory on the opening day of the campaign and then when Jordon Ibe scored in the semi-final of the League Cup. Indeed, Stoke have now lost six of their last seven Premier League games against Liverpool, with the only exception being that remarkable 6-1 win on the final day of the 2014-15 season.

The reverse fixture saw Stoke take the lead after just 12 minutes in Liverpool's first match after Christmas, but the Reds came storming back in style at Anfield and were ahead at the break courtesy of goals from Lallana and Firmino. Imbula then scored an own goal after the break before Sturridge rounded off the scoring to complete a 4-1 win for Klopp's side.

Right, the players are out and we're almost ready to go at the bet365 Stadium! It promises to be another big day for Liverpool's top-four hopes!

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Liverpool get us underway at the bet365 Stadium!

DISALLOWED GOAL! Stoke have made a bright start here and they have the ball in the back of the net already, but Shaqiri ventured offside before slotting the ball past Mignolet.

You can sense a buzz of expectancy around the bet365 Stadium, which is no doubt a result of Liverpool's unexpected starting XI. The fans feel like their side have a real chance today.

Liverpool are yet to really get going in this one and Stoke are trying to test out their unfamiliar back three as much as possible in the early stages. It is the hosts who have started the brightest here.

Good play from Johnson as he coasts past Clyne all too easily before whipping a good delivery into the middle that Klavan does well to deal with under pressure from Walters.

Clyne is playing as a left wing-back, by the way, with Alexander-Arnold on the opposite flank and Milner alongside Can and Wijnaldum in midfield.

Arnautovic has shown a couple of signs already that he is up for this one, and the nature of Liverpool's formation could well see him get a lot of space.

Better from Liverpool are they threaten for the first real time today. Wijnaldum advances down the right and whips a cross into the box that Grant misses, but Johnson is there to clear the danger at the back post.

Liverpool somewhat controversially win a corner, with even the visiting players seeming to think it was a goal kick. The officials are adamant, though, and are perhaps relieved that nothing comes of it.

CHANCE! Half a chance for Stoke as the ball drops kindly for Berahino inside the area. Perhaps if he was fully sharp he would have taken that first time, which he needed to do really, but he tries to take a touch and the opportunity goes begging.

Origi won't want to see this one again. It is at least a sight of goal for the Reds as Origi cuts back onto his right foot and tries to pick out the top corner, but puts it a long, long way wide.

Mark Hughes will be the happier of the two managers after the opening 20 minutes here. Liverpool have not got going yet and look like they are struggling to come to terms with this new look formation.

Better from Liverpool as they slowly begin to get a foothold in the game. This is their best spell of possession so far, but the game is lacking the intensity that we are used to seeing when Liverpool play.

UPDATE: Goals have been few and far between in the 3pm kickoffs so far, but the first has gone in for Southampton as Jordy Clasie gives his side the lead against West Brom.

Liverpool have hoisted a number of long balls forward towards Origi so far today, which is a strange tactic as the Belgian is not so much a hold-up striker and Woodburn is also unlikely to compete with those big Stoke defenders.

There is concern for Woodburn here as he goes down with what looks like a knee problem. The youngster needs treatment and may be forced off after less than half an hour here.

Woodburn is back up and it looks like he will try to run the problem off.

CHANCE! Liverpool gifted Bournemouth the opening goal on Wednesday and they almost do it again here. Lovren's attempts to cut out a ball forward only succeeds in looping it into the path of Arnautovic, who hits a first-time volley into the side-netting. Difficult chance for the winger, but a clear sight of goal nonetheless.

UPDATE: There has been a goal at the Etihad Stadium, and it is not good news for Liverpool as Ahmed Elmohamady has scored an own goal to put Manchester City 1-0 up against Hull.

Stoke win their first corner of the day and Mignolet does well to get a fist to it, but he can only clear it as far as Shaqiri. The Swiss winger goes for a first-time volley but miscues it and Shawcross is offside as the ball loops up into the area.

Alexander-Arnold slides a pass through for Wijnaldum, who looks to be in behind the defence before the lineman's flag is raised. That was a very tight one!

Not much to report from the last few minutes. This is a strange game in truth - it is being played a lot like an end-of-season fixture but it carries so much importance for Liverpool. I wouldn't be surprised to see a change from Klopp at half time.

CHANCE! By the standards of this match, we're call this a chance. The visitors win a corner that Origi meets, peeling off his man to get his head to the ball, but he loops his effort over the crossbar.

PENALTY SHOUT! Liverpool want a penalty here, and on first viewing it looks like one to me! They string together their best move of the match and it only comes to an end when Woodburn is brought down by a clumsy Pieters challenge. Klopp is fuming!

That isn't going to improve Klopp's mood much! Just a minute after seeing a strong penalty shout turned down Liverpool find themselves a goal down, and it is that man Jonathan Walters who does it against the Reds again. It is really poor defending from the visitors, with Shaqiri bursting past Klavan too easily and then delivering the cross to Walters, who is completely unmarked from five yards out. From there it is a simple finish, but where was the defending?

There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this first half.

The referee brings an end to the first half at the bet365 Stadium, and it is not a half Liverpool fans will want to see again. They have been poor in their unfamiliar formation so far and subsequently trail at the break, although Klopp will feel hard done by after seeing a strong penalty claim turned down moments before the opening goal. Something needs to change for the visitors.

Predictably, it was Walters who got the goal to extend his remarkable scoring record against Liverpool. It is all too easy for the striker, though, as he was left unmarked in the area to plant a header past Mignolet from close range. Shaqiri had reached the byline, beating Klavan too easily on the way, before lifting his cross into the middle for Walters to apply the finishing touch.

The goal came less than a minute after Liverpool had seen a penalty shout turned down, though, and Klopp was furious on the touchline. Pieters went to ground inside the area when there was no real need, bringing Woodburn down just inside the box. Mike Dean waved the claims away, though, when others may well have given it.

KICKOFF: Stoke get us back underway at the bet365 Stadium, and the first thing to tell you is that Liverpool have indeed made two changes - Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho on and Woodburn and Alexander-Arnold off.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the afternoon goes to Klavan for a cynical block on Shaqiri.

Already the introduction of Firmino and Coutinho has made a difference. Liverpool are keeping the ball better and seem a lot more comfortable with those two on the pitch.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Stoke to double their advantage! It is horrendous defending from Liverpool again as they fail to clear their lines from a corner, with Wijnaldum nodding the ball right back into the danger area. Stoke have three players queuing up looking to finish it from six yards out, but Mignolet throws himself at it and makes a big, big save to deny Adam. That should have been 2-0!

SHOT! Shooting chance for Liverpool at the other end, but it is a difficult one for Milner to take on and he sends a tame strike bobbling wide.

SHOT! Better from Liverpool and Origi, who collects the ball in the area and dips onto his right foot before curling an effort a couple of yards past the far post.

CHANCE! Liverpool are beginning to apply some pressure now! Firmino darts in behind the defence to latch on to a ball over the top and after seeing his attempt pass inside fall back to him he goes for goal, forcing Grant into a save at his near post.

The resulting corner is nodded back into a dangerous area, but it doesn't fall for Liverpool and Stoke are able to hack it clear.

SAVE! Clyne does really well to get his way past Arnautovic on the right flank before passing the ball inside for Coutinho. The Brazilian tries to pick out the bottom corner with a low first-time strike, but Grant is down to turn it around the post well.

OFF THE BAR! Liverpool are getting closer and closer! Coutinho swings the resulting corner into the box and Lovren attacks it really well with a powerful header that crashes off the woodwork.

Stoke finally get a bit of respite from the growing pressure as Shaqiri takes it forward before being brought down by Klavan. Stoke fans and players want a second yellow card, but Mike Dean is right to only give the free kick.

This is a huge 30 minutes in Liverpool's season. The way the match is heading you would expect the Reds to find a breakthrough in that time as they are really piling the pressure on Stoke at the moment.

SHOT! Another corner causes a few problems for Stoke and they can only clear it as far as Wijnaldum, who slices his effort a couple of yards wide.

Pieters does well to nick the ball around Lovren before going down under a second challenge from the Liverpool defender, which gives Stoke a free kick in a good position...

STOKE SUB: Stoke make their first change of the afternoon as Glenn Whelan replaces Walters.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Liverpool respond with their third and final change of the match, and it is a return for Daniel Sturridge as he replaces Origi.

Liverpool have the equaliser, and it is Coutinho who comes off the bench to rescue the visitors! The Stoke defence could only clear a cross as far as the Brazilian inside the area, and he makes no mistake with his finish, burying it into the bottom corner with aplomb. A big 20 minutes awaits!

What a turnaround from Liverpool! They score two in as many minutes as the Brazilians come off the bench to turn this game on its head. This one is a stunner too as Firmino beats the offside trap before lashing a brilliant volley past Grant from outside the area - think Vardy against Liverpool last season.

WHAT A SAVE! Oh my word, what a save this is from Mignolet! Arnautovic curls a lovely cross to the back post for Berahino, who looks certain to score from close range, but Mignolet flings himself across and makes an incredible stop. How big could that prove to be at the end of the season?!

A minor flash point off the ball as Adam throws Can to the ground and the German looks furious about it. It looks for a moment as if he is intent of exacted revenge, but Mike Dean steps in between them.

Liverpool have been a different team entirely in this second half, but it is worth remembering that they surrendered a 2-1 lead in the closing stages of a match as recently as Wednesday. There will be plenty of nervous fans in this final 10 minutes or so!

The Liverpool fans are in good voice as they look to roar their side over the line here. This would be a big win for the Reds, and the type of one they perhaps haven't been the best at picking up over the years.

STOKE SUB: Attacking change from Stoke as Ramadan Sobhi replaces Adam.

Shaqiri wants a penalty following a challenge from Firmino in the area, but Mike Dean is having none of it and it would have been a soft one for sure.

Sturridge is adamant that Martins Indi has handled the ball here as the last man, which could well have been worthy of a red card. Once again Mike Dean shakes his head, though.

Important piece of defending from Pieters as Coutinho lifts the ball into the box for Sturridge, who takes it down but can't pull the trigger before the Stoke defender knocks it behind for a corner.

SHOT! Can looks to give Liverpool a cushion with a long-range strike, but the ball flies over the top via a slight deflection from Johnson.

There will be a minimum of four minutes added time at the end of this match.

Liverpool hold out for a huge victory that keeps them in third place in the Premier League, now nine points clear of Arsenal in fifth. A strange team selection from Klopp backfired as they went into the break behind courtesy of a Walters goal, but Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino came off the bench to rescue the Reds and wrap up a valuable win.

That is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's match as Liverpool come from behind to beat Stoke with the help of a bit of Brazilian magic. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!