A late stunner from Phillip Coutinho has given Liverpool a 1-0 win in their opening match against Stoke City.
>>MATCH REPORT: Liverpool go 1-0 over Stoke
The match seemed destined to end in a draw until Coutinho kicked the winner in the 86th minute.
Stoke City 0 – Liverpool 1
Following an embarrassing 6-1 loss in the corresponding fixture on the final day of last season, Liverpool will be out for revenge when they return to the Britannia Stadium to face Stoke City on the opening day of the new campaign. Join The Roar from 1:00am (AEST) for live scores and commentary.
Former Reds captain Steven Gerrard was sent out a loser on the final day of last season at the hands of a rampant Stoke side – a match that will no doubt be etched in the minds of Liverpool players when they head back to the Britannia Stadium to open their 2015/16 campaign.
New captain Jordan Henderson has spoken candidly of the fixture as his worst afternoon in a Liverpool shirt and will no doubt have his boys out to avenge the embarrassment of last season. Stoke manager Mark Hughes will be praying for a repeat performance.
Both sides have undergone significant changes in key positions over the off season and there will be plenty of attention for the big names taking to the pitch in their new colours for the first time.
For the Reds, big money signings Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino as well as fellow acquisitions James Milner, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez, Adam Bogdan and Nathaniel Clyne will participate in their first official fixture for the club. Expect starts for all except keeper Bogdan and Ings. Also interesting to note that this is the first Liverpool squad to undertake the Premier League without Steven Gerrard since 1998.
For the Potters, Jakob Haugaard, Philipp Wollscheid, Joselu, Marco van Ginkel, Shay Given, Ibrahim Afellay and ex-Red Glen Johnson have all been added to the ranks. Afellay represents the latest of many ex-Barcelona players to call the Britannia home and is perhaps the pick of the crop.
As the first fixture of the new campaign, this match carries the potential to be the start of a winning way for either side and thus they will be both be eager to pick up the three points at all costs. Not to mention the history of close contests between the two – with the ledger squared up at 4 wins a piece in the last eight meetings home or away.
Stoke’s Jonathan Walters has been the most prolific player in the fixture – having notched 4 goals against the Reds in the past.
The bookies have the Reds as slight favourites for this clash despite being away from home.
In player news, Stoke captain and key centre back Ryan Shawcross is out for two months with a back injury and could be joined on the sidelines by Marc Wilson and Marko Arnautovic who are both doubtful.
While the Reds remain without key striker Daniel Sturridge, defender Jon Flanagan and potentially could miss Joe Allen who is carrying a hamstring injury sustained in preseason.
Prediction:
Stoke 1-2 Liverpool
Join The Roar from 1:00am (AEST) on Monday morning for live scores and participation in our live blog.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Thank you for joining me for this fixture! Have a great night!
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
FULLTIME AT THE BRITANNIA AND LIVERPOOL HAVE EDGED IT! It was a hard fought contest here decided by an absolute stunner from Philippe Coutinho. It was a goal that deserved to decide any game. A long range bomb from a man who has done it time and time again for the Reds. New signings were solid but none really stood out here. Benteke and co. look like their tactics are still being sorted out to get the best from each other this season. Nonetheless, this goes down as an exceedingly valuable win for the Reds and a lovely start to get off to. Especially considering they lost 6-1 in the corresponding fixture just 11 short weeks ago. So to recap, its LIVERPOOL 1 STOKE CITY 0.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90+2' The ball nearly fell for Diouf! But Mignolet was alert to the challenge and claimed the ball with both hands. 1-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
THREE MINUTES ADDED TIME FOR THE REDS TO HOLD ON
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90' Odemwingie puts WAY too much on the ball in and it falls over the back and out of play. How many more chances will they get? Not many and the Nigerian has spurned a good one there. 1-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
89' Its a Stoke free kick now on the left wing. Can they produce an unlikely equaliser? 1-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
So its the Reds with the lead now and just 2 minutes of regular time to play. Can they hold on for an important opening day victory?
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
88' Apparently the Brazilian was about one minute from being replaced by Danny Ings... good timing Philippe. 1-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
AN ABSOLUTE CRACKER FROM COUTINHO OPENS THE SCORING! GOALLLLL GOALLLL GOALLL! You won't see a much better goal than that! The Brazilian does what he does best. Picks up the ball through midfield beats one and strikes from 35 yards. The ball floats through the air with immense power and Butland had no chance. WHAT. A. STRIKE. ITS LIVERPOOL 1 STOKE 0.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
85' Sidwell penalised as Coutinho takes a tumble in midfield. Not really much in it. We are now 5 short minutes away from the first goalless fixture of the 2015/16 Premier League season. 0-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
84' DIOUF GOES CLOSE NOW WITH A HEADER A nice ball in found him in close range and his header was well saved by Mignolet. Its also worth noting that Australian Cricket Coach Darren Lehmann is in the crowd today! Alongside ex-Liverpool doctor Peter Bruknor. 0-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
82' Stoke win a free kick now through Diouf as he is taken to ground by Firmino. You'd almost tip the Potters to be the ones to snatch the win here... knowing Liverpool's luck. 0-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
As we enter the final 10 minutes we are still goalless at the Britannia. Can someone finally find the net in the dying stages?!
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
80' A fine touch by Walters put the ball in the strike path of Van Ginkel but Skrtel got his body in the way and repelled it well. 0-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
80' Liverpool looking very narrow in their forward play here... most probably due to a lack of any natural wingers on the pitch at this point. 0-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
77' Benteke brought it down via his head and it fell into the path of Coutinho who almost hit the ball out of the stadium! Overcooked that completely! Really poor effort. Both sides are taking this chance to make substitutions Ibe is replaced by Firmino. Odemwingie takes Afellay's place and Charlie Adam is replaced by Steve Sidwell. 0-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
76' Benteke nearly got put through on goal by Can but the ball was claimed by Butland. Meanwhile Firmino is about to make his first appearance in English football. 0-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
75' Benteke has been looking to get himself involved but it just hasn't been his day thus far... 0-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
74' The ball was floated in from the left by Afellay but Mignolet came out well and blotted out the chance. Grabbing the ball with both hands. 0-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
72' Ibe is down now clutching his face. Not really sure what happened there... Meanwhile, Charlie Adam has been shown a yellow card for a challenge on Henderson.