Brendan Rodgers: 'I almost subbed Philippe Coutinho'

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he had planned to sub Philippe Coutinho a matter of minutes before his wonder goal in the 1-0 win at Stoke City.

The Brazilian star struck an 86th-minute winner at the Britannia Stadium as the Reds kicked off their 2015-16 Premier League season with a victory.

"We were looking to make a positive change - so if he was going to come off bringing Danny Ings on - but when he scores the goal your mind changes," he told Sky Sports News.

"I can't profess to be any sort of genius, it was fortunate he stayed on and he scored the winner and we won the game."

In contrast, Liverpool finished their 2014-15 campaign with a 6-1 defeat at the same ground 11 weeks ago, and Rodgers is delighted with how his troops coped on their return to the scene of that mauling.

"It's always difficult when you come to Stoke," he added. "But to get a win off the back of where we were 11 weeks ago I thought it was an outstanding collective performance.

"Defensively we were strong, we knew we'd have to defend well, but we knew we had the quality to win the game. It certainly feels better than 11 weeks ago."

The Merseysiders welcome top-flight new boys Bournemouth to Anfield next Monday.