Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho
Liverpool have to come out strongly against Stoke City after Dortmund uplift Getty

Liverpool host Stoke City at Anfield on 10 April as the Reds look to close the gap on a top six finish. Jurgen Klopp's men are currently two points adrift of the Potters, but have two games in hand which they can use to close the gap at the top.

Where to watch

Kick-off is set for 4pm BST. Highlights of the game will be available on BBC Match Of The Day from 10.30pm BST.

Overview

Liverpool will be wary of the last time they came into a weekend fixture following a Europa league game, where they took a 2-0 lead in the first half but ended the match at 2-3 against Southampton. On this occasion, they make the trip back from Borussia Dortmund, having managed to hold the second placed team in the Bundesliga to a 1-1 draw, with an important away goal to help their cause.

The two teams met on the opening day of the season at the Britannia where the Reds got the better of the Potters with a solitary goal by Philippe Coutinho. The duo met again in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup, when Liverpool won the away leg 1-0, but were taken to penalties when Stoke matched their score at Anfield.

Meanwhile, Stoke come into the game having lost only once in their last four fixtures. Their last game ended in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City where they went two goals up, but were pegged back as Gylfi Sigurdsson and Alberto Paloschi scored one each for the Swans to go level.

A win here for Stoke will take them level on points with Southampton and only two behind sixth placed West Ham, who drew against Arsenal at Upton park on 9 April.

What managers say

Jurgen Klopp: "It (Henderson's injury) is serious, but it's not that serious that there's no hope for us for maybe the last one or two games, and of course there's hope for the European Championships. For us he's a very very important player, getting better and better and better, and obviously he's been playing for England too. So that's not a final judgement or whatever that you can say, 'No, there's no chance'. There is a chance. We will do everything for him, for us, that he's back in the race as soon as possible. That's it, I can't say more. We also have to wait for how each day and see how he does."

Mark Hughes: "There's only been a single goal in every game we have played against them this season, and last time we played exceptionally well, we deserved to win the game. We have cracked the ceiling somewhat with that result. There is healthy respect from both teams I think. They understand we are a good side at this level and know it will be a difficult fixture for them, and we have the utmost respect for Liverpool and what they are able to produce. It will be a tough fixture, but it's one we are looking forward to because we don't feel any apprehension going up against any Premier League team."

Betting odds (betfair)

  • Liverpool win: 4/6
  • Draw: 29/10
  • Stoke City win: 24/5

Team news

Liverpool

Possible XI: Mignolet; Flanagan, Lovren, Sakho, Clyne; Allen, Milner; Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho; Sturridge.

Stoke City

Possible XI: Haugaard; Bardsley, Cameron, Wollscheid, Pieters; Adam, Imbula; Afellay, Bojan, Shaqiri; Joselu.