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Glen Johnson has claimed that Liverpool FC do not have a stronger squad now than they did last season.

The defender, who left Anfield on a free transfer back in May, is set to line up against the Reds for new club Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday.

Johnson spent six years on Merseyside, making 200 appearances in total. But while he has insisted that he bears no grudges against the club following his exit, he has raised doubts as to whether Liverpool's summer transfer business has strengthened them significantly.

He said: “They've made some signings, but not ones that are going to walk straight into the team. They've lost Raheem (Sterling), who was an important player, so I wouldn't say it's a better squad than last year.

“It will be key for them to get off to a good start, but we want to be difficult to beat and try to improve on last season's points tally. That was a record for the club, so if we beat that we will be happy.”

Johnson claims he turned down the chance to remain at Anfield by rejecting a contract offer, and says he has nothing to prove to Reds fans this weekend.

He said: "I had a very good time there and enjoyed the majority of it. But I turned down a new contract at the end of the day, so it ended exactly how I would like.

“I met Mark Hughes and everything he had to say was what I wanted to hear. I'm settling in well and I've been made to feel welcome, so it couldn't be going any better at the moment.

“It's just typical my first game [for Stoke] is against my old club. That's football and we'll do what we've got to do. It's my job and I'll treat it as any other game.

“I've been in the Premier League for 12 years – I've got nothing to prove. When I was fit I was in the team, simple as that. There's no problems at all.”

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