Brendan Rodgers says he must “regain the trust” of Liverpool supporters

And Rodgers said at his pre-match press conference: “When the fixture came out, I felt we couldn’t have had a better one to be honest”.

“Stoke is always a hard place to go”.

“Overall it’s given me time to bed in and get to know the team and how they play, and also get to know the manager, the staff and how they operate as well”, he continued. “In terms of high-class football, we lacked everything”, he continued. It was very surprising and disappointing. The Reds have brought in a whole host of new faces, but Johnson, perhaps somewhat controversially, doesn’t feel there has actually been any improvement to the group that finished 6th in the Premier League last season. But it should never be the case, whatever the excuse, because you are fighting for people who live their lives for the football club. The top four are a long way ahead of us and are adding proven world class talent.

Stoke have lost the services of Nzonzi, who had a fantastic season last time. We learned a lot and we are very much looking forward to the start of the season because we’re a stronger team now than we were a year ago.

Nathaniel Clyne says he is counting down the days until Liverpool start their Premier League campaign.

There will be those waiting for Rodgers to slip up, but if he can get Liverpool into a decent position by the mid-way point of the season, he will have the prospect of all the top teams in the Premier League coming to Anfield in the first half of 2016. However, Liverpool will enjoy the opportunity to exact revenge against the club that ruined the Liverpool send-off of Steven Gerrard.

Roberto Firmino has recorded 21 assists over the last two seasons, more than any other Brazilian in the top five European leagues. “We have a good squad and it is up to us to show them”.

“I’m always fully-motivated for every game, and the start of the season especially so”, he told the Liverpool website. There is no difference now in terms of pressure. He’s come in for huge money, and the fans were hardly unanimous in their support of the deal. I’m really excited about how they are going to bed in.

“We are pleased that we are at home first game”.

Christian Benteke is expected to lead the line at the Britannia and Rodgers believes the £32.5million striker will prove a big hit with the Reds. It [the 6-1] certainly didn’t take away from my beliefs in my work but it sharpened that I needed to refocus and how we could take the club forward. I am going to take the overs here in a game that should see some open expansive football played. You look back at Alexis Sanchez last summer; I thought that was a massive opportunity missed for Liverpool.

Those words remain fresh in the Belgian’s mind, as do comments about the role Sherwood played in Benteke’s blistering run of form through spring, with 12 goals in 13 games propelling Villa to the FA Cup final and saving them from relegation.