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| Philippe Coutinho fired one in and exorcised last season's thrashing from Stoke |
THE TIME that walk down the touchline at The Britannia Stadium, edging ever closer to the massed ranks of baying Liverpool supporters, will not have felt quite as harrowing for Brendan Rodgers.
Some 77 days after enduring the darkest day of his career in this same raucous arena, he was swept towards the tunnel by new-found optimism and belief. Relief would have been another of his emotions.
The Liverpool manager confessed on Friday he must win back the trust of the club's fans and a victory, conjured from nothing by Philippe Coutinho's sharp-shooting in the dying embers, felt like a significant step.
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| Brendan Rodgers confessed that he had to regain the fans' trust |
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| Mark Hughes admitted that Stoke lacked a player with Philippe Coutinho's ability |
Progress, of sorts, could have been claimed by a goalless draw against a Stoke City side who had left Rodgers squirming in the spotlight when inflicting that humiliating 6-1 defeat on his ramshackle side on the final day of last season.
Yet, with Coutinho demonstrating how he will continue to assume responsibility for sprinkling stardust with a wondrous 25-yard finish with just four minutes remaining, the mood changed in an instant.
The diminutive Brazilian's previous attempt had seen a volley thumped 30-rows back into the crowd, but, after taking a pass from teenage debutant Joe Gomez and giving substitute Steve Sidwell the slip, he was to find his range with clinical precision.
Goal: Coutinho (86)
Next Up: Bournemouth PL (a) Mon, Aug 17
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester)
Stat of Day: Three of Coutinho's four Premier League goals in 2015 have come from outside the area.
Quote of the Day: "The referee has thought it was a yellow card for an elbow. If that is the case, he was fortunate not to get a red" - Mark Hughes on Lovren's tussle with Diouf.
A breathtaking curling finish brushed the fingertips of Jack Butland en route to finding the top corner. And to think Rodgers had been about to substitute him.
"I can't profess to be any sort of genius," said Rodgers. "We were very close to taking him off. He is already one of the stars of this league. He has showed that with his quality.
"It was embarrassing 11 weeks ago, but I think that puts it to bed. Today you see a team with the determination and will."
Rodgers would not have been the most beleaguered coach in sport even if Liverpool had suffered again - Australia's Darren Lehmann was in one of the executive boxes - but he has discovered some breathing space.
Character was epitomised by the aggressive Dejan Lovren, who played like the £20m defender Rodgers thought he had signed last summer, though until Coutinho's flourish the visitors had been lacking pizzazz and sparkle.
There remains plenty still to refine with the service to £32.5m Christian Benteke one area to be tackled.
Twice his team-mates questioned when he had not been sniffing out a debut goal in the six-yard box, although given this was Benteke's first appearance alongside the majority of them it was understandable wavelengths remained scrambled.
Another concern centres on Liverpool's strength in depth in midfield with Lucas left out of the squad entirely following a fall-out which presumably now promotes the prospect of a parting. He would need replacing.
In contrast to Rodgers, Mark Hughes was left to reel off a list of complaints from a contest he felt neither side had looked like pinching.
There was the failure to award debutant Ibrahim Afellay a penalty when he crashed a shot into the hands of Nathaniel Clyne in the first-half and referee Anthony Taylor's decision to book - rather than brandish a red card - Lovren when catching Mame Diouf with an elbow in one tussle.
Hughes recognised, too, that Stoke lacked someone with the ability of Coutinho to tip the balance for the hosts.
Charlie Adam and Glen Johnson both had opportunities to score in the opening half after Liverpool had been unhinged, but neither could take advantage and the danger passed.
To that end, Hughes hopes to seal a deal for Xherdan Shaqiri, who would add polish, at the second attempt.
Shaqiri was in the crowd having told Everton he would only sign permanently, not on loan, and Stoke hope to clinch his arrival despite the Swiss international having been non-plussed over their interest previously.
"We are hopeful we can do something but until we see players standing in front of the training ground with the shirt in their arms...," said Hughes, who missed the commanding presence of Steven Nzonzi in midfield.
The last time Liverpool overcame Stoke 1-0 on the opening weekend of the season, the title charge of 2013-14 followed. No one departing expects a repeat. Three points and regaining some pride will suffice for now for Rodgers.
Stoke City (4-2-3-1): Butland 6; Johnson 7, Cameron 6, Muniesa 6, Pieters 6 (Wollscheid 45 6); Whelan 6, Adam 6 (Sidwell 78 5); Walters 6, Van Ginkel 7, Afellay 6 (Odemwingie 78 5); Diouf 6.
Booked: Afellay
Next Up: Tottenham PL (a) Sat
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mignolet 6; Clyne 7, Skrtel 7, Lovren 7, Gomez 6; Henderson 6, Milner 6; Ibe 6 (Firmino 78 6), Coutinho 7, Lallana 5 (Can 63 6); Benteke 6.
Booked: Skrtel, Milner, Lovren, Gomez
Goal: Coutinho (86)
Next Up: Bournemouth PL (a) Mon, Aug 17
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester)
Stat of Day: Three of Coutinho's four Premier League goals in 2015 have come from outside the area.
Quote of the Day: "The referee has thought it was a yellow card for an elbow. If that is the case, he was fortunate not to get a red" - Mark Hughes on Lovren's tussle with Diouf.
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