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Liverpool is facing Stoke City in August 17, 2013 at Anfield.

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is rated at about 80 per cent fit but appears to have shown enough to warrant inclusion against Stoke at Anfield.

Centre-backs Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are expected to be available, although the latter is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench.

Summer signings Simon Mignolet and Kolo Touré are set for competitive debuts while fellow new arrivals Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto are additionally in the squad.

But forward Luis Suárez is suspended for a further six matches.

Stoke, meanwhile, are without midfielder Brek Shea, who has a knee injury suffered in a friendly in the United States last month.

Another midfielder, Jamie Ness, is also ruled out of Mark Hughes' first competitive game at the helm after his involvement in pre-season was curtailed by injury.

Summer signings Erik Pieters and Marc Muniesa, both defenders, are in contention for debuts while Asmir Begovic looks set to remain first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Thomas Sorensen and Jack Butland.

Match Notes
There is trepidation on both sides ahead of the fixture officially kicking off the Premier League season.

Luis Suárez is banned and keeping his removal firm on speed dial, Jamie Carragher retired and Liverpool arguably weaker in terms of squad depth.

Post-Tony Pulis, Mark Hughes is tasked with making Stoke more attractive.

That will require the kind of nip-tuck David Gest would be proud of.