Three things Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers need to do after win over Stoke City

A quick look at what the club need to do after their opening day

Charles Reynolds
Tuesday 11 August 2015 15:30 BST
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Liverpool fans celebrate during their win at Stoke
Liverpool fans celebrate during their win at Stoke

Keep Coutinho fit

In what was a fairly dull game, it took a moment of magic from the Brazilian to seal the three points for Liverpool and he is now quite clearly their best player. With Raheem Sterling off to pastures more glamorous and lucrative, Liverpool will need their star man to be on form this season if they are to get anywhere near the ridiculously high standards that some of their fans set for the club. Liverpool will hope that Coutinho does not pick up any injuries this campaign, there will come a time when they need his magic to unlock a game once again as he did at the Britannia this weekend.

Get Emre Can in the side

After his stints in defence last season, Can was probably glad to be back in midfield, and it was after his introduction that Liverpool started to retain possession and wrest some control of the game. Can also showed he has a creative side to his game, playing in Christian Benteke at one point. In short Liverpool looked a better side with Can on the park and Rodgers must surely look to accommodate him for their next game.

Trust in youth

Rodgers is well known for bringing young players through his sides, and his opening victory over Stoke gave no indication that this is a policy he should abandon. Liverpool may have lost the young talents of Sterling, but Joe Gomez, who was trusted at left-back ahead of more established players like Alberto Moreno and Jose Enrique had an assured debut for the club. Elsewhere Jordan Ibe also made a solid start to the season.

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