Rodgers hails positive atmosphere at Liverpool

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes there is a distinctly different mood in the Anfield dressing room this season.

The Northern Irishman says the locker room was a positive atmosphere ahead of the Reds' opening-day 1-0 win over Stoke, which is in contrast to last season when they suffered a 3-0 loss to West Brom.

And Rodgers is keen for the momentum to continue, with Arsenal's conquerors, Aston Villa, up next followed by the visit of Manchester United on September 1.

"I remember last year and people saying to me 'should we be losing 3-0 to West Brom?' They were absolutely right," Rodgers told the club's official website. "But we've got better and better as we've gone on. It's a big job here.

"But I just got the feeling in the dressing room beforehand, when the players were getting together, some of our staff were saying that it just feels different this year. There's a camaraderie and a togetherness there. Long may it continue.

"We haven't won the World Cup, it's a game of football. But the lads are happy, they've done their job. They knew this was a big three points."