It’s safe to say that Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern are optimistic of their Champions League qualification for next season.

And why shouldn’t they be? Jurgen Klopp’s men have shown a good turn in form and with the teams around them, including rivals Manchester United, needing to catch up with their fixtures – our landlord sees no reasons to as why the Reds will mess up their position from here.

However saying this, the knee injury sustained by Sadio Mane in the Merseyside derby is still of concern and Liverpool fans are worried about a lack of replacement for the Senegalese international which is something they suffered from earlier in 2017 when Mane was at the AFCON.

With that said, Liverpool should have the march on Stoke following their meeting earlier in the season at Anfield. The Reds came back from a Jonathan Walters goal to smash 4 goals past the Potters. Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge were all on the score-sheet that day along with an own goal and Jurgen Klopp will be confident his side can pick up all 3 points in the reverse fixture.

As always, our landlord has been looking over the starting XI of both teams and here is who he thinks will take the field for the Redmen…

GK: Simon Mignolet

With the Belgian ‘keeper’s future still in question, our landlord is unsure whether Mignolet will be the Klopp’s first choice past this season.

Although he has been fairly unnoticeable in the Liverpool goal, some of the Reds fans in the Transfer Tavern are actually coming around on Mignolet, who has seemingly taken his second chance after being dropped earlier this season.

RB: Nathaniel Clyne

A consistent performer for Liverpool this season, there is no doubting Clyne will start this one.

The England international has really made the right back spot his own since moving to Anfield.

CB: Joel Matip

The former Schalke man has established himself as one of Klopp’s first choice centre backs at Anfield and following the fiasco he endured with Cameroon over his selection for the AFCON, Matip has seemed to have settled back down and concentrating on his football enabling him to reach an impressive standard.

CB: Dejan Lovren

Impressive against Romelu Lukaku in the Merseyside derby last weekend, Lovren has set a benchmark of performance and our resident Reds in the Tavern expect him to emulate that performance every week.

The Croatian international will be looking forward to another physical battle against a Stoke side who certainly like to mix it up.

LB: James Milner

The ever reliable Milner has been sensational in his new position of left back for Jurgen Klopp this season and our Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern have really sung the praises of the former England international.

A true utility player, Milner is as effective in defence as he is in attack for the Reds and this is something Stoke will have to be wary of for this one.

CM: Emre Can

With Adam Lallana out til the end of the month and no fixed date on Jordan Henderson’s return, Emre Can will resume his place in the centre of Liverpool’s midfield where he has impressed in recent weeks.

The German international looks to have a bright future at Anfield and our landlord feels that he is surely staking a claim to having a more permanent spot in the starting XI even when the aforementioned Henderson and Lallana return.

CM: Lucas Leiva

Brazilian international Lucas will play as a holding midfielder in the three that Klopp employs to nullify the Stoke City midfield.

And with his contract up in the summer, our landlord feels that these final games of the season are vital for the midfielder if he is to prove himself worthy of a new deal at Anfield.

CM: Georginio Wijnaldum

With a crazy record that has seen all his goals in England come from home fixtures, Liverpool fans in the Tavern would be surprised to see Wijnaldum break his duck against Stoke in this one.

The Dutchman has impressed since the turn of the year for the Reds and with Adam Lallana out of this one, the emphasis will be on Wijnaldum to break from deep and supply an attacking threat from midfield.

RW: Roberto Firmino

A reshuffle of Liverpool’s front line should see Firmino be shifted out wide to the right hand side of an attacking trio.

Though the Brazilian has been very impressive for the Reds this year, he has not quite made the headlines that teammates Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho have this year and our landlord believes he can change this in the last few games of this season to cement Liverpool’s Champions League spot.

ST: Divock Origi

The knee injury sustained by Mane will open the door for the young Belgium striker, Divock Origi and Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern are excited by the prospect of this lad.

Seemingly more effective from the bench, our landlord believes Origi will have to provide a major goal threat if they are to maintain their position in the Champions League places.

LW: Philippe Coutinho

The pressure is being piled on Coutinho by Liverppol fans in the Tavern to guide the team to Champions League football and our landlord truly believes the little Brazilian is up to the task.

Fans are worried about him leaving so a strong end to the season could well be the farewell gift Coutinho gives before he swaps Anfield for somewhere else next season.