A three-goal victory for the home side would see Stoke usurp Liverpool in the league table, but though Pulis' side have proved a struggle for the Reds over the past two years at the Britannia Stadium, a win against the Merseyside club remains elusive.
Stoke can point to a sturdy record on their own turf, sitting in ninth spot in the Premier League home table after Wednesday's victory over Birmingham, as a reason to be positive going into the game.
And after beating the Blues in midweek, the Potters also ended something of a miserable run by scoring their first goal in the first 45 minutes of a game at the Britannia this season.
Reds All Over?
While Stoke have reason to be cheerful, Liverpool's away form is dire and does not bode well. Hodgson's side have picked up just one win – at Bolton – from their six away games, and have scored just four times on their travels.
But the visitors' season had looked to have finally picked up on Sunday, when Chelsea were comprehensively beaten, only for the wheels to come loose once again as Liverpool threw points away at Wigan on Wednesday.
Defeat could go someway towards ending Liverpool's charge for a Champions League spot before its truly begun, as they could end the weekend eight points off fourth spot.
Fernando Torres has netted fewer times (five) than Matthew Etherington has created for Stoke City (six) in the Premier League, but perhaps more tellingly – and damningly for a side that had not long ago been feared throughout Europe – Liverpool have scored the exact same amount of goals as their often mocked opponents.
While Stoke have reason to be cheerful, Liverpool's away form is dire and does not bode well. Hodgson's side have picked up just one win – at Bolton – from their six away games, and have scored just four times on their travels.
But the visitors' season had looked to have finally picked up on Sunday, when Chelsea were comprehensively beaten, only for the wheels to come loose once again as Liverpool threw points away at Wigan on Wednesday.
Defeat could go someway towards ending Liverpool's charge for a Champions League spot before its truly begun, as they could end the weekend eight points off fourth spot.
Fernando Torres has netted fewer times (five) than Matthew Etherington has created for Stoke City (six) in the Premier League, but perhaps more tellingly – and damningly for a side that had not long ago been feared throughout Europe – Liverpool have scored the exact same amount of goals as their often mocked opponents.
TEAM NEWS
The Potters are able to welcome back club captain Ryan Shawcross, who missed the five-goal thriller against Birmingham City, and will almost certainly replace Danny Higginbotham at centre-back.After outplaying Blues on Tuesday, Tony Pulis will more than likely stick with the same midfield, allowing Jermaine Pennant the chance to impress against his former employers, but up front the Welshman may opt to protect Ricardo Fuller – scorer of a superb solo goal in midweek – and use him as an impact sub with Jonathan Walters starting as a battering ram behind Kenwyne Jones.
Possible starting XI: Begovic; Huth, Shawcross, Faye, Collins; Pennant, Delap, Whitehead, Etherington; Walters; Jones.
Liverpool
Roy Hodgson is definitely without midfielder Joe Cole – who limped off during the Reds' one and only away win of the season at Bolton – and there are doubts over the fitness of Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Glen Johnson, both absentees in recent games.
But even if the latter proves to be in fine fettle, his place could still be taken at right-back by the steady youngster Martin Kelly.
Raul Meireles had to be substituted at half-time at Wigan on Wednesday night after suffering with an illness, but the Portuguese midfielder is expected to return to the starting line-up in a right-sided role.
Possible starting XI: Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky; Meireles, Gerrard, Lucas, Maxi; Kuyt; Torres.
Roy Hodgson is definitely without midfielder Joe Cole – who limped off during the Reds' one and only away win of the season at Bolton – and there are doubts over the fitness of Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Glen Johnson, both absentees in recent games.But even if the latter proves to be in fine fettle, his place could still be taken at right-back by the steady youngster Martin Kelly.
Raul Meireles had to be substituted at half-time at Wigan on Wednesday night after suffering with an illness, but the Portuguese midfielder is expected to return to the starting line-up in a right-sided role.
Possible starting XI: Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky; Meireles, Gerrard, Lucas, Maxi; Kuyt; Torres.
Prediction
Pulis’ team have an enviable record against the Reds at home, and Hodgson’s preference for a deep defensive line and a lone striker set-up that offers Torres little support suggests that it could be the Potters who come out on top. But the Spanish striker’s recent resurgence should be enough to salvage something for the away team.
Stoke 1-1 Liverpool 
