Coutinho found the net with a brilliant long-range strike in the 86th minute as the Merseysiders snatched a 1-0 win on the Barclays Premier League’s opening weekend.
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Coutinho’s stunning golazo ensured Liverpool clinch three points in the season opener.
Rodgers said: “You have to be better and more resolute and that was what we were working on in pre-season, making sure our defensive organisation was better and the pressing was better”.
“Eleven weeks ago we were nowhere near that – it was embarrassing on the day”. The win helped the Merseysiders put to bed the ghosts of last season’s 6-1 humiliation at the Britannia. We showed great character and determination as a team and our quality came through. I thought it was an outstanding collective performance.
Milner said: “I obviously saw him do it a few times last year, so to do it when he is on my team is nicer”.
This is a stark contrast to the season before when both Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge managed to each get over 20 goals in the 2013/14 campaign.
Stoke got deeper as the game drifted away and Coutinho eventually punished the hosts with a trademark drive from distance.
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.
“It’s hard for the guys to accept the result today because we were very even, and I didn’t think they created anything of any real note today”.
“I was behind the shot, as soon as he tried to shift it on his right, I knew he would have made the keeper work and it was a fantastic finish”.
When all else fails – and a lot did in this game – it’s individual brilliance that can often turn a very mediocre performance into a positive one. After the game, Rodgers praised Coutinho and laughed about the fateful decision he didn’t have to make in the end.
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Liverpool collected four yellow cards in the game – majority out of frustration. “That was a record for the club, so if we beat that we will be happy”. The moment Philippe got the ball out of his feet I was shouting “shoot”.
