Preview: Stoke v Liverpool

Liverpool resume Barclays Premier League duties today with a lunchtime clash against Stoke City.

Following the FA Cup double header with Reading, the Reds play their first league game of 2010 at the Britannia Stadium.

Liverpool dispatched Tony Pulis' side comprehensively at Anfield earlier this season as goals from Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Dirk Kuyt and David Ngog secured a 4-0 triumph.

Last term, the teams played out two goalless draws in the league.

The opposition

Stoke currently occupy a mid-table position in the division after enjoying an encouraging opening half to the campaign - and they go into this weekend's clash having won their last two outings.

Heading into the game, the Potters are 10^th in the table - nine points behind Liverpool - and have won five of their 10 matches at the Britannia Stadium.

Last time out, Stoke secured a 3-2 home victory over Fulham, though they were made to sweat for the victory by a Cottagers side who threatened to stage a remarkable comeback by netting two second-half goals after finding themselves three down at the break.

Lively winger Matthew Etherington is their top scorer this season with four goals.

The boss

The experienced Tony Pulis rejoined Stoke in June 2006, having previously left the club a year earlier.

Pulis made his name in football as a tough tackling centre-back, turning out for several clubs over the course of a 17-year playing career.

Following a player/coach role with Bournemouth, the likeable Welshman assumed full control of the Cherries after the departure of Harry Redknapp to West Ham United in 1992.

In 1995, Pulis began a four-year tenure with Gillingham prior to short stints with Bristol City and Portsmouth.

The 51-year-old joined Stoke in November 2002, with the Potters languishing in the lower reaches of the first division.

In his first full season in charge at the Britannia Stadium, he helped the club to an admirable 11^th place finish, however he was relieved of his duties at the end of the 2004-05 campaign.

He spent a season at Plymouth Argyle before Stoke, under new ownership, came calling again.

On the final day of the 2007-08 season, Pulis elevated the club into the Premier League for the first time in 23 years, where he would steer his side to a mid-table finish.

Danger man

Powerful striker Ricardo Fuller finished with an impressive tally of 11 goals in the Barclays Premier League last term.

The 30-year-old enjoyed spells with Crystal Palace, Hearts, Preston, Portsmouth, Southampton and Ipswich before moving to the Britannia Stadium in 2006.

He instantly became a favourite of the Potters fans thanks to his blistering pace and eye for goal, helping himself to 11 strikes in his debut campaign.

The Jamaican international followed that up with a further 15 in 2007-08, prior to making a seemingly effortless transition from Championship to Premier League that ensured he ended the season with a tally of 11 in the top flight.

Fuller's stunning effort against Aston Villa last campaign won the club's goal of the season award for the second successive year.

The striker has helped three goals so far this term, though just one of those has come in the league.

Legend

Legendary winger Sir Stanley Matthews began his dazzling career at Stoke City.

Nicknamed the 'Wizard of the Dribble', Matthews won the first ever European Footballer of the Year award in 1956.

His magnificent ball control and elegance meant he would often leave defenders trailing in his wake as he glided into the penalty area.

After leaving Stoke to begin a hugely successful spell with Blackpool in 1947, Matthews returned to the Potters 14 years later at the age of 46, where he would play over a half-century of games before trying his hand at management.

A statue outside the Britannia Stadium is a permanent tribute to the former England international.

Match stats
By Ged Rea

Liverpool's biggest away league win at Stoke came in March 1982 when they won 5-1 with Terry McDermott, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Sammy Lee and Ronnie Whelan all scoring. The Reds went on to clinch the title.

That is the only time Liverpool have won a league game at Stoke by two goals or more.

Liverpool have lost only two of their last 16 league visits.

Home and away Liverpool have lost only one of the last 19. That defeat came in April 1984 when they went down 2-0 at the Victoria Ground with former Red Colin Russell scoring one of the goals.

Liverpool are three goals short of scoring 350 in league games under Rafa Benitez.

The Reds are looking for a third successive league clean sheet for the first time this season.

In the last seven away games in all competitions the Reds have lost just once (at Portsmouth) winning three times while conceding just four goals.

Steven Gerrard has scored the club's first league goal of a calendar year in four of the last nine seasons, but injury will deny him the opportunity this year.

Stoke have scored just 10 goals in their last 16 home league games against Liverpool.

Home and away they have failed to score in each of the last five league meetings with Liverpool - a run stretching back to 1984.