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James Milner said it was nice change to be on the right end of a Philippe Coutinho “moment of brilliance” after the Brazilian’s strike helped secure a winning start for Liverpool at the Britannia against Stoke.

The former Man City star had watched from the opposition benches as Coutinho produced two crucial goals at Anfield to defeat Manuel Pellegrini’s men in each of the previous two seasons.

So Liverpool’s new vice-captain was more than happy to be finally celebrating a beauty from the Brazilian’s ever-expanding repertoire.

“I obviously saw him do it a few times last year – so to do it when he was on my team was nicer!” Milner told LFCTV after the victory.

“That’s what the game needed. It was a tough game, a battle; I thought we defended really well. It was going to take a moment of brilliance to win the game and we managed to get that.

“Not just being the first game of the season, but obviously with what happened in the last game of last season, the boys showed great character.

“It’s never an easy place to come and especially for the first game of the season. The crowd is always good here and they were obviously going to be up for it.

“Any time you can walk away from here with three points, it’s a great result.”

I thought the boys at the back were brilliant

Milner, 29, also reserved particular praise for the Reds’ defence which featured two of the debutants and in Dejan Lovren a player hoping to re-establish his reputation.

He said: “We have got a lot of quality going forward, but a lot of credit goes to the whole team and the back four.

“Clyney looks like he’s been here for 10 years; Joe coming in for his first game in the Premier League playing against Walters, who is an experienced pro, very clever and a tough player to play against – I thought he was outstanding and did a great job.

“The two centre-halves were brave and kept a really good line. That makes all the difference for us as a midfield and a team, keeping us high. I thought the boys at the back were brilliant.”

The midfielder said he didn’t believe his appointment as vice-captain at the Reds would change his role within the squad but believes he can have an impact on the young talent at the club.

“It’s an amazing honour. Liverpool is an amazing club to be at. I don’t think it will change my role in any way; you need a lot of captains, vice-captains and leaders and people who are going to talk and help each other out.

“But it’s a great honour and hopefully I can help the younger guys along, because there is so much young talent here as well.”