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Premier League: Pressure building on Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, says Stoke manager Mark Hughes

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Stoke manager Mark Hughes says several players have been reported sick and the whole complex has been sanitised

Stoke manager Mark Hughes is aware of the pressure building on Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers, whose side have failed to win a game during November.

But he is hoping to heap further misery on the Reds when the sides clash at Anfield on Saturday.

Liverpool have lost four of their five games in all competitions since the start of the month but Hughes admits the departure of Luis Suarez, plus the lengthy absence of Daniel Sturridge, would be a major problem for any side.

When you lose the services of two strikers, then it's going to impact on you.
Mark Hughes

"When people sense there is a little bit of pressure building then everybody jumps on the bandwagon and tries to add to it, which is unfair," he said.

"But that happens to all of us. It's not something Brendan is unaware of. He understands how it works.

Impact

"But when you lose the services of two strikers such as Suarez and Sturridge then it's going to impact on you.

"There were only three players in the Premier League last season who scored more than 20 goals, and Liverpool had two of them. So that shows where their season was built, on the back of two outstanding strikers.

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"They haven't had their services this year so it's going to take a big part of their game away from them."

But he believes Liverpool remain a tough side to beat, adding: "I saw a picture in the paper the other day that showed the strength of their bench, worth something like £100 million, so they do have resources they can use.

"They're an outstanding team, with great players, and although it's a tough test for us we've proven this year we can go anywhere and get positive results, so that's our intention again."