Roberto Firmino slips into the left channel and gets behind the back four, a crossing opportunity... he scuffs it and Glen Johnson can clear. A good area wasted.

Image source, .

So, according to our vote results, Manchester City are going to win the League Cup.

Stoke are more fancied than Everton though.

Image source, Reuters

Emre Can goes for the jackpot early in the second period with a curler from 25 yards, well wide. This is delicately poised. Liverpool are vulnerable with this peculiar back four.

As we thought, it's another striker for Stoke - Jonathan Walters. He is on for Geoff Cameron, a holding midfielder.

Stoke are going for Liverpool here.

Glen Johnson, who of course left Anfield for Stoke on a free transfer last summer, has looked a decent outlet for Stoke in that opening period.

Alberto Moreno at left-back for Liverpool has seen the whites of Johnson's eyes a good few times. 

Can Johnson summon a little more quality though? He should see more ball, especially if Liverpool's back four narrow up as the game goes on.

Did you know? Johnson has played in all but one of Stoke's league games this season, helping the side to eight clean sheets and setting up three goals.

Image source, Jack Butland

Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland may not have been able to wrestle the England number one shirt from Joe Hart yet but he's making all the right moves.

On a day when Wayne Rooney was voted player of the year for the national side, Butland was given the under-21 award.

You can read more on the story here.

Joey Barton gives us a hint of what he'd want if Burnley were playing Liverpool tonight...

If you've joined us late, Liverpool lead through a well-worked Jordon Ibe strike but that's not the full story.

Philippe Coutinho and Dejan Lovren have had to leave the field with what looked like hamstring injuries.

They will surely be doubts for games at Exeter and at home against Arsenal and Manchester United.

Kolo Toure and Lucas are currently playing at centre-back for the Reds.

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Stoke have a corner which Lucas heads clear... Glen Johnson will drive one from 18 yards, well saved by Simon Mignolet as the ball sneaked through bodies.

That will be that. A good half of football. Liverpool have an injury crisis but the lead will soften the blow for now.

Image source, Reuters

A cross-field pass sums up Stoke's first half as Marko Arnautovic has to give up on it and that's a Liverpool throw. Very poor indeed.

John Murray
BBC Radio 5 live commentator at the Britannia

Image source, Getty Images

"Would somebody please bring Mark Hughes a coat. He's absolutely soaking."

Hooray. It's raining so this is now a cold, wet night in Stoke.

We can use the cliche but it's not dampening Liverpool so far.

Xherdan Shaqiri has a go from range. The ball is in orbit. 

Can Stoke rattle this untried Liverpool central-defensive partnership before the break.

It's slow build-up and again they retreat to the halfway line. Stoke have Peter Crouch on the bench, could he be an answer to pressure Lucas and Kolo Toure at the heart of the back four?

Jordon Ibe lurks at the back stick and Adam Lallana's cross finds him. He takes a touch... a curler... wide. He tried for too much bend. Only Uri Geller could start a ball that wide and hit the target.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at The Britannia Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool have simply looked more energetic than Stoke City in this first half and deserve the lead Jordon Ibe has given them.

Stoke have looked so lack-lustre that manager Mark Hughes' best hope might have been to get to half-time unscathed and get the big stick out. The goal has changed all that.

Liverpool have been well in control and Stoke have just not been at it.