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Near full strength Reds looking to do it on a cold night at Stoke

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ANI Staffordshire [England]
Last Updated : Nov 30 2017 | 4:15 AM IST

Liverpool travel to Staffordshire in England to face Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium, as they look to return to winning ways after drawing their last two games against Sevilla and Chelsea.

The Red's manager, Jurgen Klopp, will have near full strength with refreshed key forwards Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane returning to the attacking fold after being rested on the substitutes bench for the game against Chelsea.

The duo's absence was felt against Antonio Conte's men as the Red's were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at Anfield, with their replacements Daniel Sturridge and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain failing to produce the goods to nab all three points for the Reds.

While the dropped points see Liverpool languishing in sixth place in the League table, the decision to rotate players in what seems to be a busy festive period might turn out to be a wise choice considering that Reds play eight fixtures in the space of a month.

Liverpool will also welcome the return of midfielder Emre Can, who missed the last match due to a minor injury.

The 23-year-old German is in line to play his 100th league game for the club and will add that much-needed steel in the middle of the park against Stoke, who will also see former Reds striker Peter Crouch returning to action against his former club.

Mark Hugh's Stoke side will look to utilise Crouch's aerial presence to torment Liverpool's brittle defence which has conceded 18 goals, more than any of the teams falling under the English Top six bracket.

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The Potters' Swizz trickster Xherdan Shaqiri will also look to keep his place in the side to provide width to the side and stretch the Reds back four.

Having just won two of their last six home games, the Stoke side will hope that the attacking intent of Crouch, Shaqiri and Cameroon winger Jean-Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will unsettle the Liverpool defence and clinch three points at home after their heartbreaking loss against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Stoke City play Liverpool at the bet365 Stadium Stadium on Wednesday night.

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First Published: Nov 30 2017 | 2:28 AM IST

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