Carling Cup matters to Liverpool after Europe blow, says Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuyt believes failure to qualify for Europe has placed added significance on the Carling Cup at Liverpool this season and the Dutchman says his first trophy since joining the club in 2006 is long overdue. Kenny Dalglish is expected to field a strong lineup in the fourth-round tie at Stoke City as Liverpool seek their first win in five visits to the Britannia Stadium and a place in the quarter-finals for the first time in four seasons. Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager, made several changes for Tottenham Hotspur's visit in round three to deal with the demands of the Europa League on his squad. With no such distractions or targets available to Liverpool, Kuyt knows the competition is a priority for Dalglish's team. The Holland striker said: "Not being involved in Europe is a major blow to the club so the Carling Cup is a great trophy to win because we're all desperate to win some silverware. Last season was such a disappointment, this one is all about improvement and we can achieve that by doing well in the Carling Cup. We have the squad to do well in each competition and have a lot of depth. The Carling Cup is being taken very seriously and hopefully we can use the bad taste we have in our mouth after drawing with Norwich in the league and use that in a positive way against Stoke." Liverpool have not won a trophy since the 2006 FA Cup and Kuyt, who signed for the club that summer, is desperate for the first silverware of his Anfield career. "In all my time as a Liverpool player I have been close to winning trophies," he said. "There was the Champions League final, the semi-final and coming second in the Premier League. We have been close but it is now time to get some silverware." Stoke inflicted the first defeat of the season on Dalglish's team in September when Liverpool wasted a host of clear chances, as was the case in the 1-1 draw against Norwich City on Saturday. Kuyt said: "Stoke is one of the most difficult games in the league. They are very strong, but we can be a strong, physical team as well. If we create as many chances as we have been doing we will be happy, but the only thing that has to change is the number of goals we score. We have to be more ruthless." Lucas Leiva is available for selection at the Britannia Stadium having served a one-match suspension against Norwich after collecting five bookings this season.