Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League encounter between Liverpool and Stoke City at Anfield.

This is a fixture that the Reds have dominated down the years, having gone 54 years without tasting defeat against today's opponents on their own patch. Despite this, the visitors will head to Merseyside confident of inflicting more misery on an out-of-sorts Liverpool side who are one point and one place below Stoke in the league table.

There's plenty to get through between now and kickoff at 3pm, so let's get straight into things by taking a look at how the two teams line up this afternoon...

So the big news then as far as today's starting lineups are concerned, is the fact that Liverpool stalwart Steven Gerrard has been dropped to the bench. For weeks now there have been calls for him to be left out, and manager Brendan Rodgers has this afternoon done exactly that. Jordan Henderson will wear the captains armband in his place.

One man who does retain his place in the starting XI, however, is goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. The Belgian international has come under fire of late, most notable in the midweek draw against Lodogorets with his fumble costing the Reds all three points. Rodgers has stuck by his number one, though, meaning that Brad Jones watches on from the bench once more.

Elsewhere, Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen are tasked with anchoring the midfield; Rickie Lambert, who has found the net twice this week already, starts up front; and Glenn Johnson is deemed fit enough to feature at full back.

In terms of today's visitors, who have been somewhat inconsistent in the league this season, they can rely upon the ever-dependable Ryan Shawcross at the back who played a big part in keeping a clean sheet at the Etihad Stadium earlier this campaign. Alongside him once again is Republic of Ireland international Marc Wilson, who made a return to training this week following a hamstring injury.

One man who has proved to be a thorn in Liverpool's side in recent times is another Irishman in Jonathan Walters, having scored four goals in six appearances against the Merseyside outfit. He is among the starters for the Potters at Anfield today, as is former Manchester United man Mame Biram Diouf.

For those just joining us, you may notice a certain No.8 shirt absent from the dressing room...

The changes don't stop at Gerrard, either, as far as Liverpool are concerned. Alberto Moreno, Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana must all watch on from the bench for this one, as their side looks to return to winning ways following four defeats in five.

Stoke were hit badly by a sickness bug in their training camp earlier this week, meanwhile, and although Asmir Begovic has managed to overcome any difficulties, Phil Bardsley and Geoff Cameron are not part of the matchday squad. Victor Mosses misses out through injury, also, while Charlie Adam, Stephen Ireland and former Reds striker Peter Crouch must watch on from the bench.

Well much has been made regarding Liverpool's poor start to the season, which has seen them drop 16 points off the pace in the race for the Premier League title. Some will argue that the real target this term was simply to qualify for the Champions League once more, and even that was always going to be a real battle. Rodgers has been the victim of his own success in many ways, but that does not necessarily give him a free pass.

The biggest cause for concern this season for Liverpool, despite all the attention on the misfiring forward line, has been at the other end of the field in defence. Too often the Reds have conceded sloppy goals, keeping just two clean sheets all season. That is the joint-lowest anywhere in the division, which combined with their 18 goals conceded - only four teams have a worse record in the Premier League - it is clear to see where the points have been dropped.

That goes some way to explaining why Lovren has been dropped this afternoon, and to a certain extent Gerrard also, as the Reds looks to get their campaign back on track. In truth, victory today will see them climb back up the table, with their Champions League fate also in their own hands, and only Bournemouth standing between themselves and the semi-finals of the League Cup. It could be a lot, lot worse.

Hughes just confirming what we already knew; Bardsley misses out this afternoon through illness for the visitors...

It may seem somewhat surprising to suggest that Stoke have suffered a rather inconsistent season when they sit one place and one point above last season's second-placed side in Liverpool, but that has very much epitomised the Premier League term to date. They have yet to win back-to-back games in the 2014-15 season, although on the flip side the Potters have not lost in successive-games since the turn of the year.

Case in point: A memorable win against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane earlier this month was followed up by a 2-1 defeat on home turf against lowly Burnley last time out. In fact, Hughes's charges have been better on their travels this campaign so far having already lost more games at the Brittania Stadium this season - 3 - than they did in the entire of last year.

HEAD-TO-HEAD! Although as touched on already this is anything by a happy hunting ground for Stoke City. You have to go way back to 1959 to find the last time the Potters won at Anfield. On top of that, their last goal at this famous stadium came 21 years ago in a run stretching back eight years. I remember a similar stat being bandied around ahead of their trip to face the champions earlier this season... we all know what happened next.

DID YOU KNOW? Switching focus back to Liverpool now, defeat for today's hosts will be their fourth on the bounce in the Premier League - not since 2002 have they suffered such a barren run of form.

With a little over 10 minute to go before kickoff, and the scene very much set for today's clash, now seems like as good a time as any to point you in the direction of Sports Mole's match preview...

PREDICTION! This really is a tough one to call. On one hand we have a Liverpool side who are suffering from a real loss of form, up against a Stoke side who have been rather inconsistent this season but still a point higher in the table. We have a Liverpool side who have not lost against Stoke at Anfield in over half-a-century, while the Potters have already inflicted defeats on Tottenham and champions Man City on the road this term. If I had to pick a prediction out of the hat, I'd go with the Reds to snatch it 2-1.

One last word before the players enter the pitch with regards to the coming weeks for Liverpool; Leicester City and Sunderland await after today's winnable home game against Stoke, meaning that there is certainly a real chance of climbing up the league table this side of Christmas.

If Rogers's men are to do so, though, then they must arrest an alarming slide of form which has seen them fail to win in six weeks. I mentioned how Rodgers should be given a lot of credit for leading the club into the top four last season, never mind the top two, although that is no excuse for a poor follow-up campaign. This really is a big afternoon for him and his underperforming side.

It also goes without saying that this is a big chance for Stoke to pick up an extremely rare win at Anfield, which will see them climb further up the table and put some points between themselves and today's opponents. Much of the attention has been on the Reds in the build-up to this one, which will suit Hughes just fine. Kickoff is just a few minutes away.

KICKOFF! Right, we're underway at Anfield on what promises to be another huge day of Premier League action.

Both sides looking to feel their way into the game in the opening few minutes. In terms of tactics, Sterling looks to be out on the left-hand side this afternoon, rather than further up the field behind Lambert. Stoke staying nice and compact; 4-2-3-1 seems to be the layout of choice.

Just moments after Cameron saw his cross evaid a touch in the Liverpool box, Sterling took a brilliant ball over the top from Henderson into his path an produced a fantastic-looking ball into a really dangerous area. Lambert wasn't quick enough to reach the cross, though, and the opening passed him by.

Liverpool continuing to knock the ball around at the moment, patiently waiting for an opening to present itself, but Stoke remaining solid. Sterling did find some space out the left when looking to pick out the run of Lambert a few minutes ago, but that aside there's not been too much joy early on.

N'Zonzi seems to be in a little discomfort after over-stretching in an attempt to win possession back from Joe Allen. He's just limping around at the moment, but seems as though he will be fine to continue. If not, that will be a big early blow for the visitors.

Bojan swings a decent ball into the mix for Diouf to challenge for, but it is well headed away. A good tester for Liverpool's defence, which so far they have handed well.

Coutinho is afforded a little time on the ball in the middle of the path, although his reverse pass into the path of Sterling doesn't quite reach his teammate. Those two will be looking to link-up regularly this afternoon, but they have had no such success so far.

Lambert has just dropped deep after tracking back, becoming his side's deepest player for a moment or two. That left a massive gap up the ever end which Sterling looked to burst into in a central position, although Enrique's lofted pass was overhit into the welcoming hands of Begovic.

Well N'Zonzi may have recovered from that earlier knock, but Steve Sidwell's afternoon looks to have come to an abrupt end. He's stayed down on the pitch, with Glenn Whelan the obvious choice to replace him. The Potters have played some decent football in the opening 21 minutes or so, particularly down the left.

STOKE CITY SUBSTITUTION: As expected, Sidwell is unable to continue with Whelan given a route back into the team. He will need to remain solid in that holding role in front of the back four.

No chances of note to bring you thus far in what has been a somewhat tame opening quarter to the game. Stoke have played some nice football, while Liverpool have had more of the ball albeit it in less dangerous areas. The Anfield crowd are now urging their side on.

Liverpool supporters just growing ever so slightly frustrated as Toure looks to continue making simple passes. There needs to be added urgency to the home side's play, and I think they now understand that. Never easy when confidence is low, though.

The rumbles of discontent continue; this time as Johnson loses the ball to Bojan. That could have ended a lot worse for Liverpool, but the former Barcelona man couldn't pick out a teammate inside the box. Still goalless. Still not a great deal of openings.

Enrique swings a fantastic ball which drops nicely between the goalkeeper and the Stoke back four. I hasten to say it was a big chance, but it is as good as the openings have come so far. Lambert was the only real option in the box which is a little alarming, and that is something that Rodgers may have to rectify during the interval.

SHOT! Liverpool have stepped it up a little now, and following that slight opening a couple of minutes ago, Skrtel found the ball at his feet in the opposition box following a corner kick, but could only blast high and wide.

Up the other end Diouf manages to pick out Walters around 10 yards from the Liverpool goal, but Lucas did brilliantly to deny the Stoke man controlling the ball and getting a shot away.

YELLOW CARD! Wilson is shown the first caution of the afternoon after bringing down Lambert. He will have to be careful for the remainder of this one.

Some nice play from Liverpool in and around the opposition box culminates in Lambert digging a cross out into the centre of the area, but it is easily dealt with by Stoke. A poor opening half-an-hour has been followed up by a far more open 10 minutes or so.

PENALTY APPEAL! Lucas, who has done very well to break up attacks in the opening 42 minutes, finds himself in the opposition area and goes down inside the box under the challenge of Pieters. Referee Craig Pawson waved play on, though, which looked to be the correct decision. The appeals were fairly muted, to be fair.

Wilson is living a little dangerously as we enter added time at the end of the first half. He has already been booked, remember, and has just shoved Sterling off the ball. Liverpool will no doubt look to target him following the restart.

Coutinho goes on a great individual run which lifts the crowd. He was just asking to be brought down by the four chasing Stoke players, but credit to them for staying on their feet and eventually dispossessing the Brazilian with a well-timed challenge from N'Zonzi.

A goalless first half at Anfield, then, which is brought to a close by referee Craig Pawson. This is usually the point in which pundits describe the game as being "a game of chess", with both sides waiting for the other to make their move. But in truth it hasn't been a classic.

Although that said, it did get better as the half wore on. Stoke played some decent football, while Lucas was often tasked with breaking up play in the middle, yet it was the hosts who created arguably the best two chances of the game so far.

Sterling and Enrique both swung in brilliant crosses from the left, which evaded any sort of contact inside the box. Coutinho also went on a mazy run towards the end of the first 45 minutes, but was disposed before being given the chance to get a shot in at goal.

Will we see a goal in the second half?

The good news for Liverpool is that 45 minutes in they have kept a clean sheet, and the platform is there to push on an win this game in the second half - with or without Steven Gerrard. Stoke will also be more than happy with their showing in the first half, meaning that there is unlikely to be any changes at the break.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Liverpool get us back underway at Anfield, looking to force the issue from the off.

Incidentally Stoke did make a change over half time with the substitute being substituted. Whelan, who has suffered from injury issues of his own in the past, makes way for former Liverpool man Charlie Adam.

Far higher tempo from the hosts in the opening stages of this second half, while up the other end Diouf's pace almost catches Rodgers's men out, only for Mignolet to read the play well and clear away a ball over the top.

Already Liverpool have far more about them following the interval. This time Sterling is given a lot of time and space on the left to get a lofted ball into the box, which unfortunately for him fails to find a teammate. Bojan took too long on the ball at the other end, meanwhile, being caught in possession by Henderson before getting a shot away.

CLOSE! By my reckoning we have still yet to have a shot on goal at Anfield this afternoon, but if the opening seven minutes of this half are anything to go by then that is going to change very soon. A loose ball on the edge of the box was latched onto superbly by Henderson, yet his effort ended a few inches wide of goal.

Moments before that Adam did well to recover after losing possession, cutting out a through-ball which would have led to a big opening. The home supporters are in fine voice now, sensing that their team are on the brink of making a breakthrough.

YELLOW CARD! Sterling's quick feet catches Cameron out, and he becomes the second player to enter the referee's book.

SAVE! Well this game is incredibly open now. Bojan's slick pass to N'Zonzi allowed the midfielder to get a shot away which deflected into the path of Mignolet to collect easily, although it looked to be going wide anyway. That came shortly after the former Barcelona man picked out Diouf, who came even closer by forcing the Liverpool stopper into making a save with his legs.

YELLOW CARD! Three of the back four now cautioned for Stoke, as Shawcross earns a yellow.

OFF THE POST! Stoke should be ahead. I was just about to say how Adam and N'Zonzi are taking control of the middle of the park, and moments later Bojan almost found the net. He has been very impressive today, with his latest run ending with a shot coming back off the upright at Mignolet's near post.

CLOSE! And now the momentum swings back Liverpool's way! Sterling goes on a burst on his own, with only a finish lacking from his effort. His shot was fired narrowly wide of goal from a tight angle on the left, to the relief of Stoke's back four.

The second half has been end-to-end stuff so far...

SAVE! My word - there is no chance for a breather! The latest opportunity falls the way of Liverpool's Leiva. It was a case of wrong player at the wrong time, though, as he fired his shot from close range right at Begovic who palmed away. Almost instantly at the other end (there's a theme developing here), Bojan lost his balance inside the box under a challenge from Johnson, meaning that he was unable to test Mignolet.

SAVE! It's going to be one of those games, isn't it. Johnson does well on the right to pick out Lambert who seemed to be free in the Stoke box, but his shot from 15 yards out was far too tame to beat Begovic.

SHOT! My word!! Allen is the latest to try his luck, this time from around eight yards out. Sterling created the chance with some tricky footwork, and after picking out the Welshman the net looked destined to rustle. That wasn't the case, though, with the shot being blazed over the bar.

The brilliant thing about this game is that both sides feel as though they can win it. Liverpool have had the better chances, but Stoke still look lively. That may go some way to explaining why, with 20 minutes to go, the only changes we have seen have been self-inflicted ones.

SAVE! Skrtel goes on a charging run into the Stoke final third, only to miss out an leave his fellow defenders exposed. The Potters were unable to capitalise, though, slowing play down a little which allowed the centre-back time to recover. Moments later Adam did get a shot in at goal, meanwhile, which Mignolet palmed away.

LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTION! The moment many Liverpool supporters have been awaiting, as Steven Gerrard enters the fray in place of Lucas. He has 15 minutes to help his side claim all three points.

It's still been gripping stuff over the past five or six minutes, albeit with less goalmouth action. We may be heading towards a goalless draw, but this second half has more than made up for what was a dire opening 45 minutes.

Gerrard's seen a fair bit of the ball since being on the field, but has been unable to unlock the Stoke backline. I think the Potters would take a point right now if you offered it to them.

OFF THE LINE! I take that back, because just like that Stoke could have taken the lead seven minutes from time. Adam's corner was headed goalwards by Shawcross, and a few yards from goal Diouf turned and fired the ball towards to back of the net, only for Sterling to be in the right place at the right time to block it on its way through. Walters's effort moments later was well handled by Mignolet.

With five minutes to go at Anfield Liverpool edge ahead. It has been such a thrilling second half, and the game certainly deserved a goal to show for it. Henderson's cross was met by Lambert inside the box, and when his looping header came back off the bar, Johnson was fast on the rebound to head beyond Begovic from close range.

The England international was unable to celebrate what is surely a winning goal for his side, however, after taking a cut to the top of his head from the boot of Pieters. It was a brave header from Johnson, who has a goal to his name for the first time in two years. Stoke have been fantastic in this second half also, mind, so don't rule them out yet.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch receives a warm reception as he replaces Arnautovic with just a few minutes of added time to go. Lovren comes on for Coutinho for the hosts, meanwhile - that says it all!

Incredibly, SEVEN minutes has been added on at the end of the game. Johnson was down for a few minutes, but seven minutes seems a little strange.

SAVE! Mignolet has just produced a superb save to deny Bojan's equally as exquisite volley from the edge of the box. That had the hallmarks of Crouch's strike against Man City a few years back, but the Liverpool stopper was equally to it to push it over. What a conclusion we are in for here - can the Reds hold on for another five minutes?

Liverpool still hold their slender 1-0 lead which will do them the world of good if they can see out this game. The atmosphere is identical to a famous, tense European night at Anfield. Stoke still have three minutes to salvage something from the game.

Stoke win a corner, and Begovic comes forward for it. He's scored once before...

... but not on this occasion. The corner is headed wide and finally Liverpool can breath for a few seconds at least. There's just seconds to go now at Anfield.

Referee Craig Pawson brings the game to a close to the relief of Liverpool's home support. As bad as the first half was, the second 45 minutes certainly made up for it with drama in abundance.

Both sides will argue that they did enough to win the game, but in the end it is Liverpool who can hold claim to the three points thanks to Johnson's late winner. What a fantastic, entertaining contest we have had.

Well that's all from me for now, but be sure to stick around on Sports Mole as we bring you a full match report, plus player ratings and analysis from Anfield. Thanks for joining.