Liverpool have the chance to end a disappointing campaign on a positive note when they travel to take on Stoke City on Sunday afternoon.

This time last year they were still in contention to win the Premier League title, but now their focus is solely on nailing down a Europa League berth on the final weekend.

Stoke City

© Getty Images

Successive top-half finishes for Stoke in the Premier League for the first time in 40 years shows just how far they have come along, but there is always a sense around the Britannia Stadium that there is still more to offer.

On a tight budget, manager Mark Hughes has built a stable top-flight club which is now in a position to push on and perhaps challenge for a top-six spot this time next year.

A strong defensive record, which has seen the Potters concede just six goals more than Manchester City all term, could provide the perfect building block to achieve exactly that.

The high-profile capture of Bojan Krkic last summer was one such shrewd buy which really could have gone either way, but it certainly proved to be £3m well spent until the Barcelona product picked up a serious injury back in January. Five goals in the space of two months for the 24-year-old caught the attention of many, although Stoke in general have continued to go under the radar throughout.

Their form may have been a little inconsistent in recent weeks, and last weekend's goalless draw against already-relegated Burnley was far from a classic, but they can hardly be blamed for taking their foot off the gas at this moment in time.

While a ninth-place finish is Stoke's regardless of events elsewhere on the final day, they welcome Liverpool in the knowledge that they can smash their previous record points tally in the Premier League should they pick up a positive result.

Recent form: DWDLWD

Liverpool

© Getty Images

Supporters of this famous club may forget that they actually have a game to play this weekend. That is nothing to do with their opponents or the stature of the match itself, but more to do with the fact that two men have dominated the back pages over the past fortnight.

First there was Steven Gerrard, who brought down the curtain on his Anfield career last weekend with the ultimate anti-climax, while the gossip columns have been all about a certain Raheem Sterling since then.

His agent confirmed in the week that a new contract will "definitely not" be signed, opening the door for the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea to make a move when the transfer window opens for business in the coming weeks.

There is no denying that Brendan Rodgers has plenty of work to carry out in terms of incoming signings, too, having seen his side slip from title challengers on the final day of the season 12 months ago to fifth-place hopefuls this time around.

Many have granted the Northern Irishman a free pass as a result of the clearly irreplaceable Luis Suarez departing last summer, and the man who was expected to step up another gear to replace him, Daniel Sturridge, enduring an injury-plagued season to forget. Even if the Reds were to pick up the points needed to see off Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur for that far from elusive fifth spot, there will be a real feel of apathy in the away section at the Britannia Stadium.

Liverpool supporters expect their side to be challenging for silverware, but this season they have fallen some way short of the mark. Now the players have one last chance to get it right, in order to ensure that Gerrard departs for Los Angeles with a smile of sorts etched firmly on his face.

Recent form in Premier League: WDLWDL
Recent form (all competitions): LDLWDL

Team News

© Getty Images

Hughes has already decided to integrate Asmir Begovic back into the first-team fold in what is likely to be his last outing for the club, meaning that Jack Butland will watch on from the sidelines once more.

One man who will not be going anywhere this summer is centre-back Philipp Wollscheid, who made his loan spell into a permanent switch this week by agreeing terms on a three-year deal, although he has not featured for the club since April.

Elsewhere, Stephen Ireland has been used from the bench in his side's last three encounters, but he could be in line for a start against the Reds, while Peter Odemwingie's recent return to fitness may see him handed a rare start on the back of what was an unchanged side last time out.

A lack of goals in the league has been a big downfall for Liverpool this season and, with Rickie Lambert rumoured to be one of those on his way out of Anfield, he may be given one final appearance after dropping out of the starting lineup last weekend.

Gerrard is almost certainly going to be handed what will be his 250th - and final - away appearance in the top flight. Jordon Ibe will be on a real high after agreeing a new long-term contract this week, although the big question centres around Sterling and whether or not Rodgers includes him in his side.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters, N'Zonzi, Ireland, Adam, Arnautovic, Odemwingie, Diouf

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Ibe, Lambert

Head To Head

Liverpool have claimed victory in each of their last three games against City, having won just two of the previous 10 meetings beforehand in the Premier League.

This is a fixture which Jonathan Walters tends to perform well in, with four goals in his last three matches against Rodgers's side at the Britannia Stadium.

A late Glen Johnson goal - his first in two years - was enough to give Liverpool a crucial 1-0 victory in the reverse meeting earlier this season, as they ended a five-match winless run to relieve some of the pressure building on Rodgers.

Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:

We say: Stoke City 1-1 Liverpool

The Reds have lost each of their two last away games on the final day of the season, which is not the greatest of omens heading into what should prove to be a tough test at Stoke. However, buoyed by the appearance of departing skipper Gerrard, they will do enough to claim a point at the Britannia.

Previews by email