by Michael Baggaley
michael.baggaley@thesentinel.co.uk

STOKE City keeper Thomas Sorensen has vowed there will be no FA Cup hangover when the Potters tackle Premier League leaders Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

City’s embarrassing third round 2-0 defeat at Hartlepool extended their poor run to just one win in their last 10 games ahead of daunting back-to-back fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea.

But Sorensen expects Stoke to come out fighting at the Britannia, where only Chelsea, Everton and Manchester United have won this season.

Stoke return to home turf for the first time since Boxing Day when Carlos Tevez’s late goal condemned them to an undeserved 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Sorensen expects a similar standard of performance against Rafa Benitez’s title-chasers, even though City will be without suspended top scorer Ricardo Fuller.

He said: “We know it is going to be tough, but we went into the Manchester United game with the belief we could get a result ... and we nearly did.

“This time around we need to go one better because we know we need all the points we can get.

“We have a lot of respect for Liverpool, but I am sure they have a lot of respect for the Britannia Stadium and what we have achieved this season.

“I think they will be wary of a very tough game so, hopefully, we can get something out of it.

“Our home record gives us confidence. I think the game at Hartlepool is already forgotten. We move on.

“There’s nothing better than playing against the best team in the league at the moment.

“Then we are at Chelsea the week after so, if you can’t get your mind right for those games, then you shouldn’t be playing here.”

The keeper is adamant there is no lingering ill-feeling in the squad following the bust up between Ricardo Fuller and Andy Griffin, which led to the striker being sent off at West Ham on December 28.

Sorensen added: “We had a talk and everyone had their say. There are no hard feelings whatsoever. We know our strength is the team so that won’t be a problem.”

TODAY’S reserve game at Portsmouth has been called off because City’s youngsters are in action in the FA Youth Cup fourth round at Norwich tomorrow (7pm).