It's been far from a rip-roaring start. It's been fairly quiet really.

It's more workingmen's club than nightclub. Everyone's just getting to know each other.

No chaotic scenes or robot dancing yet.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes and his assistant Mark Bowen have been very animated - and much of the action has involved gesturing to their defenders not to sit so deep.

Liverpool have started at a high tempo, as always demanded by Jurgen Klopp, and Stoke have yet to gain a foothold.

Stoke, predictably, are trying to get the ball up long to Peter Crouch,  but they've been unsuccessful so far - Mamadou Sakho meeting a punt forward with a firm header.

Image source, Reuters

First thing's first... Jurgen looks to have new glasses. There's no Jack Duckworth-style tape around his battered spectacles. Or perhaps he found his spare pair?

A confident start from Stoke, playing in black, who zip the ball about nicely - all the while being pressed by an energetic Liverpool. They're like those bunnies with the good batteries. You know the ones I mean...

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Waddle
BBC Radio 5 live at Anfield

"Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet not being good in the air doesn't help. Stoke keeper Jack Butland is in top form. Every time that ball comes into Mignolet, even backpasses, he doesn't look confident."

Jurgen Klopp looks fascinated by the atmosphere. Like a 16-year-old who has just walked into a nightclub for the first time.

We're off.

Image source, AFP/GETTY

Anfield is rocking. The players line up for the pre-match handshakes.

James Milner looks serious. He turns to his team-mate and comments on the noise of the crowd. His team-mate nods. James smiles.

Chris Waddle
BBC Radio 5 live at Anfield

"Stoke are capable of getting a result here. They are a dangerous team. You look at attacking players Marko Arnautovic, Bojan and Peter Crouch who can nick a game. But if those centre-backs gel well, then Stoke can get a positive result here."

Here's your five-minute warning - just enough time to make a drink of choice, raid the fridge and take the phone off the hook (does anybody actually do that these days?!).

Speaking to a Liverpool supporter in the office earlier, he said his side will win if Crouch didn't play. If the big man was selected, he feared the worst.

Mark Hughes knows what's he doing.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes on Sky Sports: "Peter Crouch's been showing decent form and we've got that outlet that he gives us. He's got experience in games like this. We look at opposition strengths and weaknesses - we think we have good threats tonight.

"Defender Marc Muniesa is a good player and has been fit for a number of weeks - it makes sense to play him. We have to win, we do that and we're through."

Image source, PA

A group of Stoke fans have tried to summon the spirit of 1972 (when the Potters last won the trophy) by hosting a candlelit gathering where the centre circle would have been at Stoke's old Victoria Ground.

"We approximated where the centre spot would have been, lit six candles, had a drink, reminisced about good times and had a sing song," one of the supporters told the Stoke Sentinel., external

And beware Liverpool fans... last time they did this, Stoke went out and beat Bolton 5-0 in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final.

Even Robert Huth bagged.

Be afraid, Reds. Be very afraid.

If you asked Jurgen Klopp to walk from Liverpool to Wembley, he'd agree and ask you what time you want him there for. He believes anything is possible and tackles challenges head on.

“We have a striking back mentality now,” Klopp said,, external after last weekend's 5-4 victory against Norwich.

“We spoke from the first minute about this, after the defeat to Crystal Palace when fans were leaving the stadium early, about how eight minutes is enough time for six goals."

Just six?

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

"They don't mess about at Anfield - attendance in already..."

Nice stuff from Jurgen. But has anyone done it the other way around by falling off a horse and comparing it to conceding four against Norwich? Presumably while in the x-ray department.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp about the Reds defence, after they conceded four against Norwich: "It's like falling from a horse - it's about immediately getting back on. There will be set plays. We know how to defend them, it's about doing it."

On picking full-back Jon Flanagan to start: "I'm really pleased for Jon. He's worked so so hard. Tonight he's ready for a full game because Clyne is not available tonight."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on the legendary cup atmosphere at Anfield: "Everybody has told me it is special. But I have to see it, smell it and experience it. I'll have to see after the game. Stoke have brought all their tall players so it seems to be a heading festival.

On the cup run: "Players until now have made everything perfect. We deserve to be here. We won the first game - let's go."