Liverpool striker Luis Suarez will miss the first six matches of the season as he completes a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in April.
Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel should be passed fit, while Iago Aspas could make his Premier League debut.Watch Celtic V Ross County Live,Watch Celtic V Ross County Live Stream,Watch Celtic V Ross County Free Live Stream, Watch Celtic V Ross County Online,Watch Celtic V Ross County Online Free, Celtic V Ross County Live,Celtic V Ross County live stream Online.
Former Barcelona youngster Marc Muniesa could start on the left of a three-man midfield for Stoke.
Another new signing, Erik Pieters, is also poised to make his debut for the club at left-back.
MATCH PREVIEW
After the drawn-out Luis Suarez saga, Liverpool are desperate to get a first Anfield opening-day win since Michael Owen's brace sunk West Ham in 2001. Mark Hughes, though, will be equally determined to manage what he failed to do in his entire QPR reign - notch up an away league win.
Suarez was never going to feature due to his ban. The £7.2m new boy Iago Aspas will be earmarked to play a major role and, with four goals in pre-season, the 26-year-old has looked sharp. His 12 goals helped Celta Vigo stay up last season but that was his first top-flight campaign. The Premier League will be another step up. Coutinho is already the real deal though. Gerrard and Sterling are fit again. The midfield has looked creative and balanced in their six warm-up victories.
Mignolet is a sound long-term replacement for Reina, although he'll be under pressure to prove himself. But there's no doubt Jamie Carragher's experience will be missed at the back. It wouldn't be surprising if Stoke get their first ever Premier League goal in front of the Kop.
It'll also be interesting to see how Marc Muniesa deals with English football. The Spanish Under-21 international defender was highly regarded at Barcelona's La Masia academy and was good enough at 17 to be on the bench in the 2009 Champions League final against Manchester United. A torn knee ligament hampered his progress. But Mark Hughes may have nicked a real bargain.
His evolution of the Stoke squad and playing style from last season's shot-shy strugglers has only just begun. He's learned from his QPR chastening and not flooded the club with new signings.
In Charlie Adam and Peter Crouch he has two former Anfield men returning to make a point. Spirit will be good under a new manager but a long hard season could lie ahead and it would be a major shock if Stoke land a first league win at Anfield since 1959.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
The Potters have not won at Anfield since a 4-3 Division Two victory in March 1959.
However, Stoke are unbeaten in their previous four Premier League matches against Liverpool, winning both matches at home and securing two goalless draws at Anfield in the past two seasons.
Liverpool have only won two of the 10 Premier League meetings between the two clubs. Stoke have won three and there have been five draws (four of them goalless).
Liverpool
The Reds are without a win in the last four on the opening day of the season, drawing two home games 1-1 and losing twice away.
Liverpool won four and drew one of their five league games without Luis Suarez in 2012-13.
They named three teenage players in six Premier League starting XIs in 2012-13. No other side did this even once.
Stoke
Stoke have only won one of their five previous opening Premier League fixtures (W1, D2, L2).
They scored just 34 goals in 2012-13, a haul superior only to relegated QPR (30). They also mustered a league-low of just 114 shots on target last season.
Last season the Potters were involved in seven of the 10 shortest Premier League games in 2012-13 based on ball-in-play time.