I'm worried. But then I would've been worried if we had beaten Celtic 6-0. We don't know if last seasons Stoke is going to come out or if Hughes has more streamlines them - we don't know how bad or good Stoke are going to be. Everything is a bit up in the air.
I hope they play Marc Muniesa, their new guy from Barca. It's cliche and not always true, but a youth player from Barcas reserves to a league like ours - it's a hell of a jump. Equally we have Aspas, likely starter and likely to be up against a Showcross or Huth - more likely Shawcross. Aspas has a little more experience of pro league - but how much good will that do him?
Then we have our 'set piece problems' - I don't think they're as bad as others do. But it's a joker card to ruin our day when all else goes right. We need to be able to score two or three I feel, to be sure of taking the game home - and it feels like a vital game.
So obviously we focus on the attack - and Coutinho is who theyll target undoubtedly. I think theyll sit Palacios on him - forgotten man he may be for Stoke but he can certainly help snuff Coutinho out. So we have to play Sterling - we need that other playmaker to pick passes, and maybe we put Alberto in central attack instead - allowing us enough playmakers to snuff out attempts to pick up Coutinho. Or maybe we don't. It feels like a long time since we've beaten Stoke.
I really don't know. I'm pretty sure we have to score more then once though. And if we do - if we batter Stoke, the whole season could swing on it. So lets, for once, start the season with a win - we haven't done that since 08/09. The seasons since we have been in a malaise. In terms of getting back that 08/09 team, the strongest Liverpool side I've seen in years, a win would be a decent start.
