Five things that will happen in World Football this week

Gerrard has a crucial role to play as Sturridge too could possibly return

Liverpool have been pushing for a Top 4 place this season with some great football on show. The side has been struck by injuries, but even with a depleted squad that lack depth, they’ve managed to stick around at the top largely due to a certain Uruguayan. Steven Gerrard is now back from injury as he played a few minutes against Hull City and then Oldham Athletic, but more important for Liverpool fans, Daniel Sturridge returned to training with an outside chance of featuring against Stoke.

With the race for Champions League places so tight, any form of dropped points could send a side spiraling down the table. For Liverpool, Sunday’s opponents Stoke City haven’t been the easiest of opponents as the Reds have struggled in away fixtures at the Britannia. Liverpool won’t be allowed to play their neat quick passing football as Stoke are experts at putting a stop to that; and that’s where Steven Gerrard comes in.

Liverpool will need to find a way to attack Stoke with long balls from deep in midfield, and the captain is the only man who can create those threatening opportunities. Gerrard’s deliveries this season have been immense, but at the Britannia he’ll have to find a way to make passes into space for the attackers, easier said than done against Stoke. Aerially Stoke will dominate Liverpool and thus an aerial attack would prove fruitless. Stoke know how to shut Liverpool out, it’s up to the captain to unlock the opponents.