The first 12 games of the campaign have been no bed of roses for either side, with the Potters having lost four games straight before they rallied to beat Birmingham 3-2 on Tuesday.
Despite turning their home patch into something of a fortress in their time in the top flight, Stoke have looked vulnerable at the Britannia this term, exemplified by the Blues' two goals in two minutes to level matters, when it seemed the result was in the bag.Dean Whitehead's late goal to win it however demonstrated the spirit of Tony Pulis' side, but Liverpool will pose far more of a test than they arguably would have earlier in the season.
Pulis has been disheartened by decisions from referees against his side in recent weeks, so he will be keeping his eye on the officials for any contentious issues not going his way.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have picked up their form since their derby defeat to Everton, having now gone unbeaten in their last four league games and finally looking something like the side that frequently sat in the top four of the division.
Reds All Over?
While Stoke have reason to be cheerful, Liverpool's away form is dire and does not bode well. Hodgson's side have picked up just one win – at Bolton – from their six away games, and have scored just four times on their travels.
But the visitors' season had looked to have finally picked up on Sunday, when Chelsea were comprehensively beaten, only for the wheels to come loose once again as Liverpool threw points away at Wigan on Wednesday.
Defeat could go someway towards ending Liverpool's charge for a Champions League spot before its truly begun, as they could end the weekend eight points off fourth spot.
Fernando Torres has netted fewer times (five) than Matthew Etherington has created for Stoke City (six) in the Premier League, but perhaps more tellingly – and damningly for a side that had not long ago been feared throughout Europe – Liverpool have scored the exact same amount of goals as their often mocked opponents.