Stoke have been dealt a real blow after it emerged Ryan Shawcross could be missing for up to a month.

The captain hobbled off during the 3-0 defeat at Leicester on Saturday, with Mark Hughes revealing he is set for another spell on the sidelines, admitting his absence unsettled the Potters.

Shawcross was out for the first three months of the season and Stoke’s marked improvement coincided with his return. This back injury is in different area to his initial problem.

Ryan Shawcross could be sidelined for a month after being taken off with a leg injury on Saturday

The Stoke captain received treatment on the pitch and has already missed three months with a back injury

‘Thankfully it’s not a recurrence of his back injury that required surgery,’ Hughes said. ‘He’s got soft muscle damage. It’s looking like to be three to four weeks. When Ryan came back in we were on a good run.

‘Losing Ryan was detrimental to us. On the day, given the circumstances, losing your skipper and a stalwart at the back is going to disrupt you. It wasn’t ideal.

Shawcross (right) has been impressive for Stoke but was powerless to stop them losing to Leicester 3-0

‘I’ve still got good players who are prepared.’

It is a straight fight between Marc Muniesa and Marc Wilson to fill the central defensive void alongside Philipp Wollscheid.

Marko Arnautovic is available, however, and could go straight into the side at Anfield.

Hughes added: ‘He has a little bit of feeling in the hamstring. It’s been checked and there’s no damage - just a little bit of tightness. He’s ready to go.’

‘We’re going to have a huge following - they’ll create a fantastic atmosphere. Those games resonate with you.

‘We want to be able to compete in the latter stages of all competitions. We could be in a final for the first time in 40-odd years, he said.

‘It’ll be difficult if we don’t get the first goal. We’ve just got to go for a win. It’s an opportunity that we’re not going to allow pass by lightly. There’s a lot of hard work that goes in any given season.

‘I would imagine Liverpool will be hoping to be a little bit tighter. They’ll be a threat. We know exactly what we have to do - there is no grey area. We’ll have a real go.’



