Ahead of our Carling Cup tie with Liverpool, Steve Holland has told the club's official web-site that his side can draw inspiration from Stoke City's goalless draw at Anfield. Tony Pulis' side defended resolutely to contain Liverpool's first choice eleven o Saturday and pick up a very valuable point in the process.

Of course, our meeting with Rafa Benitez's side is a one-off cup-tie that will need to be decided on the night but Holland says he learnt a lot from seeing Stoke frustrate 'The Reds'.

Steve told us: "Stoke had an excellent result at Liverpool at the weekend. They were organised and defended with real resilience. They showed the way in containing Liverpool's first eleven.

"They made a real game of it and frustrated Liverpool. They may have had a bit of luck on the way, with the free-kick that has gone straight in but they showed it was possible. It is up to us to make a game of it and go there and try to present them with one or two problems ourselves.

"If someone said to me it would come down to a penalty shoot-out then I would take that now. We have practiced penalties like we have done in preparation for every round. The players couldn't have been better prepared for the game, and we will go there and do our best."