Apr 8, 2017 at 3pm UK
StokeStoke City
1-2
Liverpool
Walters (44')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Coutinho (70'), Firmino (72')
Klavan (48'), Firmino (73')
Football

Team News: Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho on Liverpool bench

Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho start among the substitutes for Liverpool's trip to Stoke City.
By , Editor
Filed:
Updated: Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 14:46 UK

Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho have been named among the substitutes for Liverpool's trip to Stoke City this afternoon.

Jurgen Klopp makes three changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Bournemouth at Anfield in midweek, switching to a 5-4-1 formation to cope with the loss of the Brazilians from his starting XI.

Divock Origi takes the lone striker role up front, with teenagers Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn - making his first Premier League start - coming into the midfield alongside Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum.

Joel Matip is also back in the side as Klopp opts for a back five, with Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and James Milner all keeping their places in front of Simon Mignolet between the sticks.

The bench includes Firmino and Coutinho, who withdrew during the game against the Cherries after feeling unwell, as well as Daniel Sturridge, Lucas Leiva and Alberto Moreno.

As for the hosts, Mark Hughes makes three alterations to the side that suffered a 1-0 defeat at Burnley in midweek - their third straight loss in the league.

The fit-again Johnathan Walters, who missed the loss to the Clarets due to a concussion, returns to partner Saido Berahino up front in an expected 4-4-2 formation, while Xherdan Shaqiri makes a return after two months on the sidelines through injury.

The Swiss international comes in to the midfield alongside Geoff Cameron, Marko Arnautovic and Joe Allen - facing his former club - as Mame Biram Diouf and Charlie Adam drop to the bench.

Erik Pieters drops down to the back line while Glen Johnson comes in for Marc Muniesa alongside Ryan Shawcross and Bruno Martins Indi ahead of Lee Grant in goal.

Stoke City: Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Shaqiri, Allen, Cameron, Arnautovic; Walters, Berahino
Subs: Give, Muniesa, Whelan, Adam, Diouf, Crouch, Ramadan

Liverpool: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Matip, Milner; Can, Wijnaldum, Alexander-Arnold, Woodburn; Origi
Subs: Karius, Moreno, Grujic, Sturridge, Firmino, Lucas, Coutinho

Keep up with all of the action from the bet365 Stadium this afternoon with Sports Mole's live text commentary here.

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