Stoke (A): Build Up

[Exiled_red]

For info LFC results on the opening day since 2000

2000 - Bradford City (H) W 1-0
2001 - West Ham (H) W 2-1
2002 - Aston Villa (A) W 1-0
2003 - Chelsea (H) L 1-2
2004 - Tottenham (A) D 1-1
2005 - Middlesbrough (A) D 0-0
2006 - Sheffield Utd (A) D 1-1
2007 - Aston Villa (A) W 2-1
2008 - Sunderland (A) W 1-0
2009 - Tottenham (A) L 1-2
2010 - Arsenal (H) D 1-1
2011 - Sunderland (H) D 1-1
2012 - West Brom (A) L 0-3
2013 - Stoke (H) W 1-0
2014 - Southampton (H) W 2-1

Overall record:
P15 W7 D5 L3
Home P7 W4 D2 L1
Away P8 W3 D3 L2

Up until 2009 we had a good record W5 D3 L1
Since then it has been a mixed bag W2 D2 L2
Interestingly we have won our last 2 (both of which were at home) and lost our last 2 away. My overall memory of many of these games is that we haven't played well in many of them, we nervously edged our way to victory in the last 2, Mignolet saving a late pen against Stoke a couple of years ago, the West Brom game was a nightmare and I remember feeling we were lucky in some of the others too.

[BigChief]

That's an impressive opening day win record under Rodgers then. But both have been at home. Not so good away, albeit one game.

[RedReet]

For info LFC results on the opening day since 2000

2000 - Bradford City (H) W 1-0
2001 - West Ham (H) W 2-1
2002 - Aston Villa (A) W 1-0
2003 - Chelsea (H) L 1-2
2004 - Tottenham (A) D 1-1
2005 - Middlesbrough (A) D 0-0
2006 - Sheffield Utd (A) D 1-1
2007 - Aston Villa (A) W 2-1
2008 - Sunderland (A) W 1-0
2009 - Tottenham (A) L 1-2
2010 - Arsenal (H) D 1-1
2011 - Sunderland (H) D 1-1
2012 - West Brom (A) L 0-3
2013 - Stoke (H) W 1-0
2014 - Southampton (H) W 1-0

Overall record:
P15 W7 D5 L3
Home P7 W4 D2 L1
Away P8 W3 D3 L2

Up until 2009 we had a good record W5 D3 L1
Since then it has been a mixed bag W2 D2 L2
Interestingly we have won our last 2 (both of which were at home) and lost our last 2 away. My overall memory of many of these games is that we haven't played well in many of them, we nervously edged our way to victory in the last 2, Mignolet saving a late pen against Stoke a couple of years ago, the West Brom game was a nightmare and I remember feeling we were lucky in some of the others too.

2000 - Bradford City (H) W 1-0 3rd
2001 - West Ham (H) W 2-1 2nd
2002 - Aston Villa (A) W 1-0 5th
2003 - Chelsea (H) L 1-2 4th
2004 - Tottenham (A) D 1-1 5th
2005 - Middlesbrough (A) D 0-0 3rd
2006 - Sheffield Utd (A) D 1-1 3rd
2007 - Aston Villa (A) W 2-1 4th
2008 - Sunderland (A) W 1-0 2nd
2009 - Tottenham (A) L 1-2 7th
2010 - Arsenal (H) D 1-1 6th
2011 - Sunderland (H) D 1-1 8th
2012 - West Brom (A) L 0-3 7th
2013 - Stoke (H) W 1-0 2nd
2014 - Southampton (H) W 1-0 6th

Average position after a winning start= 3.42
Average position after a draw= 5th
Average position after a defeat= 6th

Not a lot of data to go on, but it's fair to say that lose against Stoke and we've got our work cut out for a top 4 finish.

[Saveloy]

It's one game. It might or might not create momentum that impacts the following fixtures but people are extrapolating far too much. Lose it and we've got our work cut out for 4th?
Although we have our work cut out for 4th anyway, so it's probably not that bold a statement

[RedReet]

It's one game. It might or might not create momentum that impacts the following fixtures but people are extrapolating far too much. Lose it and we've got our work cut out for 4th?
Although we have our work cut out for 4th anyway, so it's probably not that bold a statement

Of course it's only one game, but circumstances make some games more important than others, even if you still earn the same amount of points. The 6-1 was only one game and a game that we had nothing to play for, yet a large sections of fans were saying that one game was reason enough to sack the manager.

If this was Rodgers first season, or if it was off the back of a good season, then yes I agree 'it's only one game', but considering the manager is under immense pressure and considering who the opposition are, I think it's important that we win to show that we have improved from last year and that we're not in for a repeat season.

[Buzzo]

For info LFC results on the opening day since 2000

2000 - Bradford City (H) W 1-0
2001 - West Ham (H) W 2-1
2002 - Aston Villa (A) W 1-0
2003 - Chelsea (H) L 1-2
2004 - Tottenham (A) D 1-1
2005 - Middlesbrough (A) D 0-0
2006 - Sheffield Utd (A) D 1-1
2007 - Aston Villa (A) W 2-1
2008 - Sunderland (A) W 1-0
2009 - Tottenham (A) L 1-2
2010 - Arsenal (H) D 1-1
2011 - Sunderland (H) D 1-1
2012 - West Brom (A) L 0-3
2013 - Stoke (H) W 1-0
2014 - Southampton (H) W 1-0

Overall record:
P15 W7 D5 L3
Home P7 W4 D2 L1
Away P8 W3 D3 L2

Up until 2009 we had a good record W5 D3 L1
Since then it has been a mixed bag W2 D2 L2
Interestingly we have won our last 2 (both of which were at home) and lost our last 2 away. My overall memory of many of these games is that we haven't played well in many of them, we nervously edged our way to victory in the last 2, Mignolet saving a late pen against Stoke a couple of years ago, the West Brom game was a nightmare and I remember feeling we were lucky in some of the others too.

We haven't scored more than one goal on an opening day since 2007. And have only done so twice in 15 years.

[Daffy Duck]

I thought we won 2-1 last season?? Sterling and Sturridge for us and Clyne for Soton right?

[Reece]

I thought we won 2-1 last season?? Sterling and Sturridge for us and Clyne for Soton right?

[Buzzo]

How are we supposed to work with shoddy research like this?

[DannyMan2006]

It's one game. It might or might not create momentum that impacts the following fixtures but people are extrapolating far too much. Lose it and we've got our work cut out for 4th?
Although we have our work cut out for 4th anyway, so it's probably not that bold a statement

If we lose to Stoke I will definitely write off any realistic chances of 4th. I may be swayed if we are desperately unlucky, but you know you're not good enough if you're losing away to Stoke straight off the bat.

[Saveloy]

But first game is not representative of much, apart from how good your pre-season prep has been and how many new starters you're trying to bed in.

Don't get me wrong, it's important for setting the tone and building confidence - it's more important than just the three points on offer - but it's not as if it is impossible to build a good run off the back of a dodgy opening result.

A lot of people's posts sound like pre-season anxiety to me.

[red g]

If we lose to Stoke I will definitely write off any realistic chances of 4th. I may be swayed if we are desperately unlucky, but you know you're not good enough if you're losing away to Stoke straight off the bat.

add in the stuffing we got last season if we cant get up for this game and get 3 points i will be pretty pissed off, i want to see a blazing start just like we did the season before last, up for it from minute one......Not hopeful though

[ronanm]

If we lose to Stoke I will definitely write off any realistic chances of 4th. I may be swayed if we are desperately unlucky, but you know you're not good enough if you're losing away to Stoke straight off the bat.

Not sure about that. First game of the season is always tough, as is Stoke away.

[Exiled_red]

I thought we won 2-1 last season?? Sterling and Sturridge for us and Clyne for Soton right?

How are we supposed to work with shoddy research like this?

Sorry guys you are right I made a typo, will edit the post

[Exiled_red]

But first game is not representative of much, apart from how good your pre-season prep has been and how many new starters you're trying to bed in.

Don't get me wrong, it's important for setting the tone and building confidence - it's more important than just the three points on offer - but it's not as if it is impossible to build a good run off the back of a dodgy opening result.

A lot of people's posts sound like pre-season anxiety to me.

I think with the run of difficult games we have coming after this then coming out of this game with something positive could be important. If we put in a good performance and come out on the back of a good result that has to help, if we perform well and lose then that could be a difficult one to take. I think that this group of players seem to be very dependent on confidence levels hence why we seem to go through good unbeaten patches and significant patches of poor results.