Brendan Rodgers hails "big three points"

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that his squad has a better feel to it this year than it did at the same stage of last season.

Rodgers kicked off his Liverpool managerial career with a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of West Brom on the opening day of last season but saw his side get off to a much better start this time around, beating Stoke City 1-0 on Saturday.

Rodgers acknowledges that his side have achieved nothing special by winning the first game of the season, but does believe that it was a significant moment for the squad.

"I remember last year and people saying to me 'should we be losing 3-0 to West Brom?' They were absolutely right. But we've got better and better as we've gone on. It's a big job here," Rodgers told the club's official website.

"But I just got the feeling in the dressing room beforehand, when the players were getting together, some of our staff were saying that it just feels different this year. There's a camaraderie and a togetherness there. Long may it continue.

"We haven't won the World Cup, it's a game of football. But the lads are happy, they've done their job. They knew this was a big three points."

Liverpool face Aston Villa and Notts County in their next two games before hosting bitter rivals Manchester United at Anfield.