'I can cope with Stoke size'

Jay Spearing is hoping to get the Carling Cup call from Kenny Dalglish on Wednesday night and show he can cope with the physical demands a match at Stoke requires.

The diminutive midfielder insists he would be up for the challenge and claims his size wouldn't be an issue facing a powerful Potters unit.

Having played the full 90 minutes in the earlier rounds at Exeter and Brighton, he is eager for another opportunity to show his qualities.

"It has been a mixed season for me so far," Spearing told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"With the new players that have come in I haven't had as many chances as I would have liked, but at the end of the day it's down to me to keep working hard every day in training and show the manager I deserve a chance when the time comes.

"I have to look at the positive side of things. The boss has put me on the bench for every Premier League game so far and I have played in the Carling Cup games, so I can't complain about that.

"I've got to do everything I can in training to show the boss I am ready if he needs me to play against Stoke.

"If I do get the chance to play it will be a massive game for me. They have a lot of six foot plus lads in their team and it's a chance for me to show that I can be put up against anyone, of stature and size, whoever, and do a good job for the team.

"If we get the ball down and play the football we are capable of then we can cause them a lot of problems."

After two successive home draws in the Barclays Premier League, Spearing believes Liverpool will soon start to convert the many chances they are creating and get back to winning ways - starting with the clash at the Britannia Stadium.

Jay: I can cope

He added: "We have drawn our last two games but we could easily have got six points. I thought we were unlucky not to beat Manchester United and Norwich.

"We are creating a lot of chances and I am confident we will soon start to put these away and a win is just around the corner, hopefully at Stoke on Wednesday."

Back in September, the Reds lost 1-0 to Tony Pulis's side in the league, but Spearing insists that was an unjust result and is hoping a slice of lady luck will come Liverpool's way this time around.

"We were very unfortunate to lose at Stoke in the league," he said.

"Again, we created a lot of chances and put them under a lot of pressure. They got a penalty which was harsh but you have to get on with it, and I thought we reacted well to going a goal down but didn't have much luck on the day.

"If we go to the Britannia Stadium with the same mentality and same attitude then I don't see why we can't get a better result this time and go further in the competition.

"We know all about the qualities of Peter Crouch and Jermaine Pennant from their time at Anfield. Peter can score a lot of goals and Jermaine has got a great delivery on him and can cause defenders a lot of problems.

"They have got Rory Delap and Ryan Shotton who can both cause you problems from throw-ins so we know what to expect and how to cope with it.

"We know Stoke is going to be a very difficult game for us with the way they play to their strengths and we are expecting a battle, but we know what we are capable of and we want to get through to the next round."

Stoke beat Tottenham in the third round on penalties at the Britannia Stadium, but if the tie goes to a shoot-out again on Wednesday, Liverpool's No.20 is confident the Reds would have the cool heads under pressure.

He said: "It could go right through to penalties but with the lads we have got in the squad we are always confident if it comes down to that. Hopefully it won't and we can get the victory in open play.

"We have been away from home in every game in the Carling Cup so far and that shows the quality of our squad that we can go away from home, produce good performances and beat anyone.

"The Stoke game is another good chance for us to keep going as far as we can in this competition and then hopefully get a home draw in the next round."