Brendan Rodgers has praised Simon Mignolet for 'doing his homework' after the Belgian goalkeeper made a dream start to his Liverpool career by saving Jonathan Walters's 89th-minute penalty in their 1-0 win at Anfield.
Daniel Sturridge gave Liverpool a first-half lead and although Daniel Agger's handball seemed to offer Stoke City a late point, Mignolet made a superb double-save to ensure that Liverpool won at home on the opening day of the Premier League season for the first time since 2001.
"He made three terrific saves in the game. He had one in the first half when Jonathan Walters had a great turn and shot and Simon stretched and got a strong arm to the corner on the left side," manager Rodgers told the club's official website.
"Obviously when you don't take your chances - and we created numerous chances and didn't do that - and then get a penalty against you at the end, there's sometimes that sinking feeling.
"But he had done his homework and knows exactly where all the penalty takers are going. It was a good first save and then obviously the reaction to get up and make the second save was impressive. It was terrific performance all round - but of course, the goalkeeper gets the plaudits when he saves a penalty right at the end."
Mignolet arrived at Liverpool from Sunderland this summer for a fee believed to be in the region of £9m.
Kristian Johnson
