The Liverpool fans here in the Transfer Tavern were partying until the small hours of Sunday morning last weekend, with celebrations in full flow after their 3-1 win over rivals Everton on Saturday lunchtime.

A scintillating performance from Jurgen Klopp’s men saw them take control of the race to finish in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League, with the Reds looking to put a difficult start to 2017 firmly behind them.

Liverpool face Stoke City this afternoon looking to edge further clear of their rivals for a place among Europe’s elite and it looks a pretty winnable game for the Reds given City’s struggles of late.

A few of the Liverpool contingent are at the bar getting tanked up ahead of today’s game and our landlord takes a look at two players who could be dropped from the team for today’s showdown.

Lucas

The Brazilian looks to be on borrowed time at Liverpool and his versatility this season has done enough to suggest that he is no longer good enough to hold down a regular position in the Reds’ team.

Lucas has been a loyal servant to the Reds but one drunk Liverpool fan is practically falling off of his bar stool with how much alcohol he has consumed and he concedes that the player is now surplus to requirements at Anfield.

James Milner

Given that the makeshift left-back has played a lot of football this season, boss Jurgen Klopp could choose to hand the vice-captain a much deserved rest for the Stoke City game.

A Reds fan is playing on the fruit machine here in the Tavern and he thinks that Milner has been first class this season, although he does concede that a rest for the trip to the Britannia Stadium could do the ex-Manchester City man the world of good.