Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said that he expects a difficult match when his side visit Stoke City on Sunday.

The Reds defeated Stoke on the opening day of the season at Anfield, but Rodgers is aware that Mark Hughes's team will be hard to beat at the Britannia Stadium.

"It's an incredibly difficult place to go," he told reporters. "We weren't very good there last season, our performance simply level didn't merit a result.

"It's a tough place to go, their record this season shows that – just the one defeat. They've had some excellent results and performances.

"We respect them, they're very resolute and committed and we all know it is a difficult place to get result. For us, we go with real strong intentions to get the result that we want."

Liverpool are currently fourth in the Premier League table.