Stoke worried about Liverpool

He said: “I have great respect for them, they are a fantastic football club. We know it is going to be tough.

“I have a feeling they might change it for us, play two up top and Steven Gerrard in midfield and go a bit more gung ho. He has some great players in great areas.

“We will do what we did last year, when we put in a great performance. We will go there and enjoy it.

“People see it as a bonus game but not me. Everyone has to be 100 per cent, however. We will have to play with lots of energy and lots of enthusiasm.”