Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will be back in the Barclays Premier League front-line at the weekend armed with an array of riches.
Benitez, whose side are unbeaten in 11 matches, will take charge at Stoke on Saturday evening and relieve assistant Sammy Lee of his touchline responsibility for the team.
The Reds boss, who has recovered from recent kidney stone surgery, will have star striker Fernando Torres ready to return to the starting line-up for the first time since being struck down with another hamstring injury in November.
Hard-working forward Dirk Kuyt will also be back after being rested at Preston for last weekend's FA Cup win, while Argentina captain Javier Mascherano has been declared fit following an ankle injury.
There is even an outside chance that Xabi Alonso could have recovered from the foot injury which required seven stitches after the Preston victory, however he is more likely to return on January 19 for the first of the two upcoming derby clashes with Everton.
Benitez said: 'Xabi trained yesterday but the problem is he had seven stitches so clearly it depends if he can put boots on and kick the ball.
'For running and training he is okay but we have to decide at the end of the week about his boots.
'If he can kick a ball he could be available for Stoke but we will have to wait and see.'
Benitez does have a worry over right-back Alvaro Arbeloa who is expected to again miss out with a hamstring problem.
The Liverpool boss said: 'Arbeloa is improving but I think he will need another week. Hopefully next week he can train normally again.'
Arbeloa's continued absence means Jamie Carragher is likely to continue at right-back, with Benitez having the choice of Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Sami Hyypia in central defence.
Liverpool could even use all three at the Britannia Stadium to combat Stoke's physical approach.
Striker Robbie Keane may only feature on the bench, but Kuyt's return is almost certain as Liverpool look to make amends for their goalless draw against Stoke at Anfield back in September.
Kuyt says: 'The important thing for us this season is that we have had a better start than in previous seasons.
'We've had some new players in the squad who have made us better but the other players have all been together for a few years now and because of that we are only going to get better and better.'
Speaking to liverpoolfc.tv, Kuyt underlined how the players want to erase the memory of the dropped points against Stoke earlier in the season.
He added: 'That was a really frustrating afternoon for us. Sometimes you cannot explain football. We had so many chances to kill the game but just could not do it.
'I do not think their crowd will let them be as defensive this weekend as they were at Anfield and so maybe there will be more space for us to play in.
'They have done well at home though so we know it will be a difficult game. They are a strong team who can cause problems from long throws, but we are Liverpool and if we focus 100 per cent on the game then we should win.'
Benitez, whose side are unbeaten in 11 matches, will take charge at Stoke on Saturday evening and relieve assistant Sammy Lee of his touchline responsibility for the team.
The Reds boss, who has recovered from recent kidney stone surgery, will have star striker Fernando Torres ready to return to the starting line-up for the first time since being struck down with another hamstring injury in November.
Hard-working forward Dirk Kuyt will also be back after being rested at Preston for last weekend's FA Cup win, while Argentina captain Javier Mascherano has been declared fit following an ankle injury.
There is even an outside chance that Xabi Alonso could have recovered from the foot injury which required seven stitches after the Preston victory, however he is more likely to return on January 19 for the first of the two upcoming derby clashes with Everton.
Benitez said: 'Xabi trained yesterday but the problem is he had seven stitches so clearly it depends if he can put boots on and kick the ball.
'For running and training he is okay but we have to decide at the end of the week about his boots.
'If he can kick a ball he could be available for Stoke but we will have to wait and see.'
Benitez does have a worry over right-back Alvaro Arbeloa who is expected to again miss out with a hamstring problem.
The Liverpool boss said: 'Arbeloa is improving but I think he will need another week. Hopefully next week he can train normally again.'
Arbeloa's continued absence means Jamie Carragher is likely to continue at right-back, with Benitez having the choice of Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Sami Hyypia in central defence.
Liverpool could even use all three at the Britannia Stadium to combat Stoke's physical approach.
Striker Robbie Keane may only feature on the bench, but Kuyt's return is almost certain as Liverpool look to make amends for their goalless draw against Stoke at Anfield back in September.
Kuyt says: 'The important thing for us this season is that we have had a better start than in previous seasons.
'We've had some new players in the squad who have made us better but the other players have all been together for a few years now and because of that we are only going to get better and better.'
Speaking to liverpoolfc.tv, Kuyt underlined how the players want to erase the memory of the dropped points against Stoke earlier in the season.
He added: 'That was a really frustrating afternoon for us. Sometimes you cannot explain football. We had so many chances to kill the game but just could not do it.
'I do not think their crowd will let them be as defensive this weekend as they were at Anfield and so maybe there will be more space for us to play in.
'They have done well at home though so we know it will be a difficult game. They are a strong team who can cause problems from long throws, but we are Liverpool and if we focus 100 per cent on the game then we should win.'
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