![By Kevin Walsh from Bicester, England (Sturridge) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/7ff4b8d2f950e9ac9675a2c9e1a07ca79acb9aa895ab4f932737410b48d5df15.jpg "By Kevin Walsh from Bicester, England (Sturridge) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
Liverpool and Stoke’s first leg in the Capital One Cup semi final is played three days after each side begun 2016. Rush The Kop’s Liverpool predicted XI.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are just 180 minutes away from Wembley and a chance at the first piece of silverware for any team to win this season.
Last year Liverpool found themselves in the same position: the Capital One Cup semi finals. They lost to Chelsea over a hard fought two legs, now they have a go at Stoke City.
Stoke, like Liverpool, had won their last two games of 2015 and seemed to be gaining form.
Stoke, like Liverpool, then lost their first game of 2016 disappointingly to negate the idea of good form.
This first leg takes place at the Britannia and Klopp will want his side to set themselves up for when the second leg is returned to Anfield.
Daniel Sturridge may be available, Jordan Henderson probably won’t, ditto for Divock Origi and James Milner.
With Liverpool’s next fixture being against League Two side Exeter City on Friday in the FA Cup, he’ll have a chance to rest some key first team stars after this match, so it’s likely the Reds will have their strongest (fit) XI against Stoke in the final four of the cup.
Rush The Kop predicts Liverpool XI against Stoke City. 4-2-2-2.
Next: GK