Klopp's men respond. Kevin Stewart plays a neat short pass to Daniel Sturridge, who drills a shot just wide from 20 yards. Jurgen Klopp said before kick-off that Sturridge is "an artist"; and there was certainly artistry about that effort.

Image source, Reuters

Liverpool's aerial weakness at the back is exposed again. It's a great ball in towards Peter Crouch, who climbs above his marker to guide a header in off the post. Crouch is denied, however, as he is rightly ruled offside.

Image source, Reuters

The frustrating thing from Liverpool's point of view there is that James Milner could clearly be heard telling his team-mates to hold their line as the ball came in from Shaqiri. They failed to do that, and have lost their lead as a result.

Image source, Reuters

Stoke attempting a recovery here, and applying a good deal of pressure on Liverpool's defence. Simon Mignolet is off his line to punch clear as Peter Crocuh goes up for a header. The visitors are prepared to mix their tactics up a bit here. Xherdan Shaqiri is showing a few neat touches, but they're happy to lump the odd cross up to their giant centre-forward too.

Image source, Reuters

Club statistician Ged Rea is the go-to man for all your Liverpool facts and figures, and he has come up with the goods again.

BBC Merseyside Sport
Ex-Liverpool midfielder David Thompson at Anfield

"What a strike, right into the bottom corner. I really like his energy going forward, Alberto Moreno, but so often he's missing that final bit of quality. The keeper didn't even move there though. What a start from Liverpool."

Image source, Reuters

Vieira151: Alberto Moreno could very well turn into the next Riise if he can keep hitting them like that...

Stoke aren't at the races* right now. Kolo Toure plays a pass on the inside of Xherdan Shaqiri, who is scrambling to get back. To the Stoke man's relief, Alberto Moreno has made the run a fraction too early, and is flagged offside.

*That's the obligatory Grand National pun dealt with and boxed off.

Image source, Reuters

BBC Merseyside Sport
Ex-Liverpool midfielder David Thompson at Anfield

"It's a massive game on Thursday and everyone's looking forward to it but the league is important as well. I always feel like you can't disregard the league while there's an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League. Having said that this will be a big opportunity for Stewart and Ojo to show what they can do, with the manager already thinking about next year."

I should mention too that Stoke playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri is making his first appearance in four weeks after recovering from a thigh problem. He delivers a cross from the right that is helped on to Ibrahim Afellay at the back post, but the Netherlands international skies his volley into the Kop.

Image source, Reuters

There's an early sight of goal for the visitors as Kevin Stewart loses possession to Peter Crouch, and Bojan Krkic - a scorer against Swansea last weekend - lets go with a 30-yard effort that sails well wide.

Image source, Reuters

As they did in the League Cup at Anfield in January, Stoke will kick towards the Kop in the first half.

Here's the Stoke manager on today's game, and the return of Ryan Shawcross, who is emerging from the tunnel with his team-mates as I type: “It's good to get Ryan back. When you lose your leader for any amount of time, it’s has an effect.

“You have to respect that Liverpool are in a strong and testing period in terms of fixtures. It’s understandable that they've made so many changes to a certain extent. It’s still a very strong squad on paper. Daniel Sturridge isn’t a bad player to have at your disposal."

Perhaps the oddest piece of team news, though, concerns Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan, who misses out because he is still feeling the effects of a back injury sustained while getting out of his car last week.

I'll let Mark Hughes explain: "He just got out of his car when he came to training on the Thursday before the Swansea game. He was all locked up on the Friday, and he was able to start the match. But as the game progressed, he got more stuck in his back area and he had to come off. He's been blocked up all week. 

"We will have to check his car. It's one of those things. You just turn the wrong way and you get that spasm in your back. Usually, they go quite quickly, but not on this occasion unfortunately."

Image source, Gett

Jon Walters is also missing with a knee injury and Joselu is ill, so Mark Hughes gives Peter Crouch only a second Premier League start of the season in attack. Crouch, who had three seasons with Liverpool, was very effective when Hughes's side won 1-0 on the night in their League Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield in January - before losing on penalties - so there is logic to the selection.

Captain Ryan Shawcross does return after four weeks out with a back injury. The central defender has had three separate back problems in the last nine months, and so this is only his 15th league start of the season.

Image source, #bbcfootball

Marko Arnautovic, meanwhile, is not available to repeat January's Anfield goalscoring feat. Stoke's top scorer jarred his knee during the first half of last Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Swansea when he was challenged by Jack Cork. The Austrian forward completed the game, but hasn't trained since. He is likely to be back for next Monday's home match against Tottenham.