Stoke City 0-1 Liverpool : Five talking points

Phillipe Coutinho's lone strike sealed the points for Brendan Rodgers' menLiverpool banished the memories of the horrific 6-1 drubbing at the Britannia stadium on the final day of last season, as they secured a slender 1-0 victory in the season’s opener at the same pasture, courtesy to a nerve-jangling piledriver from Philippe Coutinho five minutes from time.For the first time in the last 17 years, the Reds kicked-off a season without their talismanic captain Stevan Gerrard and his absence was sorely felt as the visitors looked shorn of a motivator many a times. Chances flew sizeably from the ends, but the toothless finishings kept the game deadlocked for a large stretch of the game.While the match was headed for a first goal-less draw of the season, Brazilian midfielder Coutinho unleashed a searing volley that crashed into the far post and sealed all 3 points for the Merseysiders.Not a very brilliant start to the campaign by the heavy spenders, but neither very disappointing as well. We look across the five talking points from the match in Stoke-on-Trent.

#1 The Britannia remains a fortress

The Brittania Stadium remains one of the Premiership's toughest away grounds

The visiting side may have run out victors in this match, but were made to strain every sinew to find the winner. Liverpool had a hard time in breaching the sturdy Stoke City side and it was only in the 85th minute, and a moment of artistry from the diminutive Brazilian starlet Coutinho, that saved them the opening day blues.

Travelling to Britannia stadium has always been a damning prospect. Even the top shouts of the league have had a torrid time here and it won’t be criminal to adjudge it as a fortress of sorts. Last season, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Liverpool themselves, had all dropped points here and the latter were about to do so again, today.

Stoke may not be a serious contender for even the top four, let alone the title, but at home, they are a juggernaut.

#2 Liverpool solid in attack but shaky at the back

The likes of Jordan Ibe, Phillipe Coutinho and Christian Benteke shone for the Reds

The last time Liverpool visited Stoke, they were absolutely listless in every aspect. They were torn asunder by a rampant Potters and their shortcomings were laid bare. Although they have come a long way since then, there are certain holes still left to be plugged.

The Merseysiders looked very compact in the midfield and showed ingenuity in the attack. Summer recruit Christian Benteke was mobile, threatening, whereas Coutinho, as always, played the creator-in-chief for his side and also won the game for Liverpool with a stupendous strike. However, problems continue to persist at the back.

Liverpool’s rearguard appeared ropey and the hosts managed to invade the box on multiple occasions. There were several instances where Stoke came really close to going ahead, but Liverpool just got lucky today.

If Brendan Rodgers were to see his side climb back into the elite four of England’s top flight, his main focus should be to beef up the defence.

#3 Johnson shows why he needed a move

Glen Johnson is starting to have better days

Former Liverpool outcast Glen Johnson joined Stoke City during the summer and made his official debut against his former side. Although there was a blare of boos from a certain section of the Britannia arena, the 30-year old nonetheless, had a convincing evening.

Johnson fell out of favour of Rodgers for declining performances and the club were desperate to sell him, also in order to also cut their losses with the hefty package he pocketed. Naturally, the fans were relieved to see him leave but sent an ominous message to his old side that he still hasn’t lost his touch.

The England international was admirable defensively and tried to contribute in the attack with his occasional bombings into the foray, something which wasn’t seen from him in a red shirt for a long time.

An encouraging start to his new sojourn and perhaps, this was what he all needed - a relocation.

#4 Lallana spurns his chance to leave a mark

Adam Lallana was shipped in from Southampton last summer for a stonking £25 million and did very little to justify his price tag. As a result, the midfielder then made most of his appearances from the bench and if his performances today is anything to go by, it is set to be the same for him this season.

Liverpool have splurged extravagantly in the attack this summer, just like the one before. Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings are all the new arrivals whereas David Origi has returned from his loan spell, Lazar Markovic is out to prove a point this summer and Jordan Ibe is doing a great job to fill the shoes of Raheem Sterling. That leaves Lallana in the lurch.

The attacking midfielder was given the nod for this game but did nothing to repay Rodgers’ faith. He was dispossessed easily and struggled to create. It was not surprising that he was withdrawn later in the game.

Lallana must secure a regular first team place if he were to prove his worth but with performances like this, it seems a distant memory.

#5 Coutinho shows his class, again

Sometimes, all it takes is a moment of pure magic to turn the game on its head. The game deadlocked at 0-0 even in the 85th minute was heading to become a tale of missed chances by both sides, just when Coutinho stepped up to the plate and changed the dynamics of it.

The Brazilian is well-known for his scintillating long-range efforts and managed to conjure it again, on the opening day, as he struck a ferocious 25-yard bullet into the top corner, with just 5 minutes remaining on the clock.

The creative force from the midfield for Liverpool, Coutinho has influenced games with such match-winning moments in the past and now without the Gerrard in the centre, the talismanic mantle falls on the next most creative member of Liverpool, Coutinho himself.

He was the best visiting player for the evening and if there’s one player who can largely define how the Reds’ season unspools, it’s nobody else but the former-Inter Milan chieftain.