Chelsea have had most luck in title race, claims Klopp

“Klopp as brought that confidence”, Barnes told Express Sport.

However, Ibrahim Afellay is set to make his long-awaited return to the squad after recovering from a knee ligament injury.

While Lallana is back at the heart of Klopp’s Gegenpress – a unique tactic that involves regaining possession immediately after losing the ball – the team is missing Coutinho’s flair, Roberto Firmino’s form and the defensive solidity offered by Matip.

Jurgen Klopp’s side left it late to secure a 1-0 win over Merseyside rivals Everton last week, their second successive away victory in the league.

Marko Arnautovic is suspended and Geoff Cameron, Phil Bardsley and Stephen Ireland are all injured.

Antonio Conte’s side have won 11 consecutive league matches although Klopp thinks they, unlike Liverpool, have been fortunate not to have lost any of their key players for significant periods of the season.

Get 4/1 enhanced odds on Liverpool to beat Stoke. This ended a run of 36 games without a win in any competition at Anfield. The manager has Daniel Sturridge, who returned from injury against Everton, to deputise for the Senegal global, but the pace and precision provided by Mane will be hard to duplicate for the English forward, who is yet to open his account in the Premier League this season. But the Merseysiders can’t afford slip-ups in this sort of game if they are going to catch the runaway leaders.

Hull City and Manchester City will play their eighteenth game of the Premier League season at the Kingston Communications Stadium on Monday, 26th December.

Who will come out on top in the battle of the managers Jürgen Klopp or Mark Hughes?

Given the makeup of Liverpool’s squad (no left-back cover; no experienced wingers bar Mane; Sturridge’s injury record etc), Klopp should’ve been planning for the January market since the summer, and if he can’t find anyone suitable, then that’s his failure, and his alone.

It’s Liverpool’s 21 home goals that bettors are expecting to see more of, and that’s why the price on Overs is so restrictive.