Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he nearly substituted Philippe Coutinho before his late winner at Stoke. Brazil midfielder Coutinho scored the only goal with a stunning long-range strikein an otherwise drab encounter. "You have to keep him on the pitch as long as you can because he has that moment," said Rodgers. "I am glad I kept him on but I can't profess to be any sort of genius. It was fortunate he got the goal and he stayed on." The Northern Irishman added: "He did well to last the match because he has only been back from the Copa America for three weeks. "He did well to turn Steve Sidwell with a wonderful touch. To beat Jack Butland shows the real quality of the goal." The two sides met in the last game of the 2014-15 season, when the Potters ran out 6-1 victors.Despite the result, Rodgers kept his job and was pleased with his team's improvement over the summer.