TEAM NEWS

Defender Jon Flanagan could make his first start since May 2014 on Tuesday as Liverpool attempt to beat Stoke and reach the Capital One Cup final.

The Reds, who lead 1-0 from the first leg, could be without right-back Nathaniel Clyne (knee), while defender Dejan Lovren is not fully fit and centre-back Steven Caulker is cup tied.

Stoke will be missing captain Ryan Shawcross (back), but forwards Marko Arnautovic and Bojan Krkic could start.

Geoff Cameron (ankle) is still not fit.

Jordon Ibe's goal in the first leg at the Britannia Stadium gives Liverpool the advantage heading into the second leg at Anfield, with Reds manager Jurgen Klopp hoping to reach a major cup final less than four months after taking charge of the club.

What the managers said

Liverpool boss Klopp: "I've heard about the special atmosphere at Anfield in semi-finals and I am really looking forward to it. Let's take the whole power of LFC and take it to the final.

"Reaching a final is great, but at the end it is only memorable when you win it and that is what you have to do. You should not waste the opportunity of winning something and I know for the players it is really important - they really want to go to the final."

Stoke boss Mark Hughes: "We are going to really push for it. You always remember cup finals and semi-finals because of the excitement and the atmosphere and we want to make it a night to remember.

"Hopefully come 10pm on Tuesday we will be in the final of this competition for the first time in 40-odd years, and I will be reminding the players of that before kick-off."

Match facts

• In eight previous League Cup semi-final first-leg victories, only once have Liverpool not progressed to the final. Middlesbrough beat them 2-0 in the return leg in 1997-98 after losing 2-1 at Anfield in the first leg.
• Stoke have played Liverpool six times in the League Cup, drawing one and losing five.
• Jordon Ibe has scored twice and assisted another goal in his last two League Cup games.
• Of the teams remaining in the competition, Stoke have scored the fewest goals in this season's League Cup (five).
• Liverpool have never lost a League Cup semi-final leg at Anfield, although the past two have been draws (won eight, drawn seven).
• Stoke have not won at Anfield in any competition since March 1959, going 36 visits without a victory (drawn five, lost 31).
• Liverpool have conceded just once in the last eight games in which they have hosted Stoke. That goal came in Stoke's last visit in a cup competition (2-1 loss in FA Cup in March 2012).
• Stoke have progressed from both of their semi-finals in the League Cup, reaching the final in 1963-64 and 1971-72.
• Roberto Firmino has scored four goals in three games after just one goal in his previous 24 in all competitions.
• Liverpool have scored as many goals in their last two games as they had in their previous eight matches in all competitions (eight).