Liverpool and Stoke City kick off the 2013-14 Premier League campaign with an early lunchtime start on Saturday at Anfield.
The hosts, who finished seventh last season, are hoping to return to the Champions League by the end of the campaign, but many have argued that their dreams of European football could hinge on Luis Suarez,
The Uruguay international has been trying to orchestrate a move away from Anfield this summer, but manager Brendan Rodgers has refused to discuss the striker's future out of respect to the players available for this weekend's clash.
New signing Iago Aspas is likely to start up front for the home side, with Philippe Coutinho and possibly Daniel Sturridge alongside him, while Kolo Toure could partner Daniel Agger in defence.
The visitors begin a new era under manager Mark Hughes, who has secured the signatures of Alex Grant, Marc Muniesa, Erik Pieters and Juan Agudelo so far this summer.
The Potters could only muster a 13th-placed finish under former boss Tony Pulis, and pressure will be on Hughes to improve the club's stance with a new approach.
The club's new signings could make an appearance on Saturday, while regular squad members Cameron Jerome, Peter Crouch and Kenwyne Jones could form Stoke's attack at Anfield.
Possible lineups:
Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Toure, Agger, Enrique; Gerrard, Lucas, Allen; Coutinho, Sturridge, Aspas
Stoke City: Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters; Pennant, Adam, Muniesa; Jerome, Crouch, Jones
Sports Mole says: 2-0
Danielle Joynson
