Rodgers thrilled with Coutinho
Rodgers was thrilled with his No.10 after Coutinho’s super strike was enough to ensure Liverpool’s season got off to a winning start.
He told Sky Sports that he was close to replacing the Brazillian, with only a few minutes of the match to go.
“We were looking at it because he’s only come back into the fold a lot later than the others,” the Reds boss admitted.
“But it’s wonderful. We obviously changed position because he started in central midfield. “You want to keep him on the pitch as long as you can but we felt that maybe towards the end of the game Glen (Johnson) was getting forward more and he (Coutinho) was getting forward with Glen and maybe we were losing a bit defensively in the side.
“You try to leave it (the substitution) as long as you can because he has that magic.
“But what a goal! To turn out Steve Sidwell who’s a really strong player, to get away and hit the strike at that stage of the game, in the first game, was wonderful.”
Johnson reflects on facing his old club in his first game for Stoke
The new Potters rightback told Sky after the game: “You’ve got to be professional but last night when you’re thinking about it and your mates are texting you then it is a little bit hard. But it’s football and when the whistle goes you’ve just got to get on with it.
“In the week leading up to this I was telling them he [Coutinho] is the one. For me… he will be one of the best in the world.
“He’s one of the nicest boys in the dressing room as well and he’s the sort of guy you need in the last ten minutes when your back is against the wall and he can produce magic last that.”
On how he’s settled in at the Britannia, he said: “It’s been really good. The players and backroom staff and made me feel really welcome. I’m still trying to find my feet but I’m pleased the games are coming round.
On how he’s settled in at the Britannia, he said: “It’s been really good. The players and backroom staff and made me feel really welcome. I’m still trying to find my feet but I’m pleased the games are coming round.
“My fitness is getting there. I only played 90 minutes during pre-season. The last 15 minutes I felt it but I felt good for that.”
More post-match reaction, this time from Martin Skrtel.
The Liverpool defender told Sky: “It was massive because it’s always important to start the season well. We knew we had to come here and get some points so I’m happy with that.
“It was a battle and it always is here because they’re a physical team but we came here and we were ready for that and scored the goal to get the three points.”
Henderson: We showed resilience today
Liverpool’s new captain Jordan Henderson was positive about what he saw on the field today.
He told Sky Sports after the game: ”We knew it would be difficult because it’s a hard place and a good team. But I thought we’ve worked really well pre-season on the training field and in the games and I think today we showed resilience and Philippe showed a bit of magic to get the win.
“We always have the belief coming forward that we can create one or two chances by the end of the game because we’ve got that much quality so as long as we stay solid at the back then we’ve got a chance and thankfully we did.
“Obviously we’ve tried to put the last game here to bed and it’s a new season and a new start and at the back of our minds now that’s gone. We’ve put it to bed and we move on to this season. But it’s important we don’t get carried away because it’s one game and one win and we have to keep working hard.”
Henderson: We showed resilience today
Liverpool’s new captain Jordan Henderson was positive about what he saw on the field today.
He told Sky Sports after the game: ”We knew it would be difficult because it’s a hard place and a good team. But I thought we’ve worked really well pre-season on the training field and in the games and I think today we showed resilience and Philippe showed a bit of magic to get the win.
“We always have the belief coming forward that we can create one or two chances by the end of the game because we’ve got that much quality so as long as we stay solid at the back then we’ve got a chance and thankfully we did.
“Obviously we’ve tried to put the last game here to bed and it’s a new season and a new start and at the back of our minds now that’s gone. We’ve put it to bed and we move on to this season. But it’s important we don’t get carried away because it’s one game and one win and we have to keep working hard.”
Coutinho Brendan's new main man
For all the talk of Benteke and Firmino, a successful season for Liverpool will probably have as much, if not more, to do with the form of this man.
He won them two points today that they perhaps didn’t deserve.
Full-time: Stoke 0-1 Liverpool
And so it comes to pass, Coutinho’s super strike is enough to give Brendan Rodgers’ side three points and exercise some of the demons that were haunting them over the summer, following the 6-1 trouncing they endured at the Britannia in May.
Ultimately, three points covers up what is very much a work-in-progress for the Anfield outfit, but with Arsenal losing and Chelsea drawing, Liverpool fans can only be positive about this result.
Stoke will feel hard done by - they were the better team for a large part of the game - but ultimately, Liverpool’s little Brazilian whizkid again delivered the magic.
It was just as well, too, as Benteke struggled to have a major impact in his first game leading the line.
FT: Stoke 0-1 Liverpool - What a stunning winner Philippe Coutinho, a goal worthy of winning any game. Brendan Rodgers will be delighted to gain some measure of revenge for the heavy defeat here back in May. Three points for Liverpool but much to work on performance wise.
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