Stoke 0 Liverpool 1 player ratings: Christian Benteke, Nathanial Clyne, Joe

The Brazil global is some weeks behind most of his team-mates in terms of fitness having joined pre-season late because of his participation in the Copa America.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was visibly delighted after his side kicked-off their Premier League campaign with a win away at Stoke City.

“But we felt that maybe towards the end of the game Glen (Johnson) was going forward more – and he is good at getting forward – and we were losing out defensively on that side”.

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was the furthest player away from Coutinho, as he was lining up his shot, but he gave his attacking teammate some real-time advice, nonetheless.

He said: “It is always hard when you come to Stoke and to get a win on the back of where we were 11 weeks ago took an outstanding collective performance”.

Read on to see our Liverpool predicted line up for today’s game against Stoke City, with the Reds hoping to get off to a winning start after last season’s disappointment.

“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”.

Rodgers’ counterpart Mark Hughes, meanwhile, expects Liverpool to be like a wounded animal when they arrive on Sunday, although the Welshman remains confident about Stoke’s chances.

That would be at odds with manager Rodgers’ philosophy which is built upon incisive, possession-based football but the 29-year-old England worldwide says the players have to adapt to different styles of play.

It was secured courtesy of a superb long-range strike from midfield playmaker Philippe Coutinho late in the game on the back of a disciplined defensive display from the visitors. “It’s a team that certainly has that personality, but of course you’ve got to show it in the game and they did that”. Very”, Rodgers explained. “I can’t profess to be a genius!

Hughes said: “We are hopeful we can do something but until we see players standing in front of the training ground with a shirt in their arms then you never know”.

The Brazilian had an indifferent game up until the 86th minute but he scored a trademark goal – a powerful strike from outside the box to ensure the reds left the Britannia victorious.