Much of the talk surrounding Liverpool this summer has been focused on who will replace Luis Suarez. What Brendan Rodgers quickly realised is that there was probably no one that could. And therefore against Southampton at Anfield he had to adapt - changing last season's hugely successful system to make up for the loss of his £75million striker. Daniel Sturridge, cut loose from his familiar partner, worked as a lone striker. Raheem Sterling went wide on the left while Philippe Coutinho took his place on the right with a license to move inside. Rickie Lambert had to settle for a spot on the bench. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Brendan Rodgers share an emotional text from Luis Suarez . New trio: Raheem Sterling was on the left with Daniel Sturridge a lone striker and Philippe Coutinho on the right . Making up the numbers: Brendan Rodgers has had to find a way to replace the best striker in the world . Giving direction: Rodgers issues instructions to his players after taking a note on his pad . Back in business: Sterling confidently gives Liverpool the lead after Jordan Henderson's brilliant ball through . Done and dusted: Sturridge scores the winner past Fraser Forster to give Liverpool all three points . It was a familiar sight at Anfield last season - an incisive through ball cutting through the opposition defence and finding a forward to confidently finish off the move with aplomb. Only this time round, that forward wasn't Luis Suarez. Raheem Sterling moved inside from his left wing position and latched on to Jordan Henderson's excellent ball from inside his own half to tuck the ball beyond Fraser Forster - putting Liverpool ahead after 23 minutes. But while last season Liverpool were free-flowing and constantly dangerous - against the Saints there were teething problems, although they did eventually start the post-Suarez era with a win. And it had all started so well - Rodgers' tactical switch paid dividends midway through the first half when  Sterling scored the opener. The pacey 19-year-old was hanging around on the left while Manquillo and Jordan Henderson fought for the ball in midfield. With Sturridge and Coutinho otherwise occupied, Henderson looked up to see Sterling as the best option. The additional width provided by his new role put Sterling in the perfect positon to sprint away from Nathaniel Clyne and giving him the chance to finish coolly past Fraser Forster. It was the sort of move so frequently seen last season when Suarez was cutting defences into ribbons - and would have had Liverpool fans believing that there is life after Suarez. But unfortunately that moment was out of the ordinary rather than the norm. While there were concerns about nullifying Sterling's threat out wide for England this summer - Liverpool ended up having exactly the same problem with Coutinho. Finish: Sterling puts the ball in the back of the net during the first half to give the Reds the lead . Delight: Rodgers' new system looked to be paying dividends as Sterling put Liverpool ahead after 23 minutes . Tactical issue: Coutinho found it difficult to create from out wide and his inroads into midfield weren't great . The Brazilian playmaker has been in great form for the Reds in pre season but he simply couldn't get ahold of the game - finding it difficult to create from the wide role and finding himself a little lost when he tried to make inroads into the centre of the park. That left Sturridge starved of service with Sterling - who was excellent in the first half - only providing fleeting glimpses of his talent in the second half as Southampton grew into the game. Steven Gerrard for once looked a little lost, leaving Henderson as the prime creator - a role that he performed admirably but that proved too much to shoulder alone. Tightly marked: Sterling finds it difficult to escape from the excellent James Ward-Prowse at Anfield . What now? Coutinho and Sturridge prepare to restart the game after Nathaniel Clyne's equaliser . Got that one wrong: Coutinho heads off after failing to spark Liverpool into life at Anfield . Rodgers rung the changes, with Joe Allen coming in for Lucas and Lambert making his debut in place of Coutinho. Allen made things a bit more direct and his impact helped create the winner. Sturridge slipped in the winner after the ball had bounced around the Southampton area with four Liverpool players in the box as they mixed it up. It was relief rather than justification for Rodgers' tactical switch but for now it doesn't matter. Liverpool are off and running with three points - but the conundrum of how to replace Suarez continues and they will need to do more against Manchester City in their second Premier League game. Decider: Sturridge watches as his side footed finish drops into the bottom corner of Forster's net . Relieved: Sturridge celebrates the winner that he provided with a deft touch from Sterling's headed pass .
Last season's player of the year joined Barcelona in £75million deal .
Brendan Rodgers has spent big to replace the Uruguayan's big influence .
Manager went with experience in the forward positions vs Southampton .
Raheem Sterling started wide on the left with Philippe Coutinho in No 10 role .
Daniel Sturridge was deployed as a lone striker - a change from last season .
Sterling gave Liverpool the lead after 23 minutes latching on to Jordan Henderson's smart through ball that cut through Southampton .
Coutinho looked lost out on the right as Liverpool struggled to create .
Sturridge scored the winner latching on to Sterling's header in the box .
Liverpool had success after bringing on Rickie Lambert and going direct .
Much of the talk surrounding Liverpool this summer has been focused on who will replace Luis Suarez. What Brendan Rodgers quickly realised is that there was probably no one that could. And therefore against Southampton at Anfield he had to adapt - changing last season's hugely successful system to make up for the loss of his £75million striker. Daniel Sturridge, cut loose from his familiar partner, worked as a lone striker. Raheem Sterling went wide on the left while Philippe Coutinho took his place on the right with a license to move inside. Rickie Lambert had to settle for a spot on the bench. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Brendan Rodgers share an emotional text from Luis Suarez . New trio: Raheem Sterling was on the left with Daniel Sturridge a lone striker and Philippe Coutinho on the right . Making up the numbers: Brendan Rodgers has had to find a way to replace the best striker in the world . Giving direction: Rodgers issues instructions to his players after taking a note on his pad . Back in business: Sterling confidently gives Liverpool the lead after Jordan Henderson's brilliant ball through . Done and dusted: Sturridge scores the winner past Fraser Forster to give Liverpool all three points . It was a familiar sight at Anfield last season - an incisive through ball cutting through the opposition defence and finding a forward to confidently finish off the move with aplomb. Only this time round, that forward wasn't Luis Suarez. Raheem Sterling moved inside from his left wing position and latched on to Jordan Henderson's excellent ball from inside his own half to tuck the ball beyond Fraser Forster - putting Liverpool ahead after 23 minutes. But while last season Liverpool were free-flowing and constantly dangerous - against the Saints there were teething problems, although they did eventually start the post-Suarez era with a win. And it had all started so well - Rodgers' tactical switch paid dividends midway through the first half when Sterling scored the opener. The pacey 19-year-old was hanging around on the left while Manquillo and Jordan Henderson fought for the ball in midfield. With Sturridge and Coutinho otherwise occupied, Henderson looked up to see Sterling as the best option. The additional width provided by his new role put Sterling in the perfect positon to sprint away from Nathaniel Clyne and giving him the chance to finish coolly past Fraser Forster. It was the sort of move so frequently seen last season when Suarez was cutting defences into ribbons - and would have had Liverpool fans believing that there is life after Suarez. But unfortunately that moment was out of the ordinary rather than the norm. While there were concerns about nullifying Sterling's threat out wide for England this summer - Liverpool ended up having exactly the same problem with Coutinho. Finish: Sterling puts the ball in the back of the net during the first half to give the Reds the lead . Delight: Rodgers' new system looked to be paying dividends as Sterling put Liverpool ahead after 23 minutes . Tactical issue: Coutinho found it difficult to create from out wide and his inroads into midfield weren't great . The Brazilian playmaker has been in great form for the Reds in pre season but he simply couldn't get ahold of the game - finding it difficult to create from the wide role and finding himself a little lost when he tried to make inroads into the centre of the park. That left Sturridge starved of service with Sterling - who was excellent in the first half - only providing fleeting glimpses of his talent in the second half as Southampton grew into the game. Steven Gerrard for once looked a little lost, leaving Henderson as the prime creator - a role that he performed admirably but that proved too much to shoulder alone. Tightly marked: Sterling finds it difficult to escape from the excellent James Ward-Prowse at Anfield . What now? Coutinho and Sturridge prepare to restart the game after Nathaniel Clyne's equaliser . Got that one wrong: Coutinho heads off after failing to spark Liverpool into life at Anfield . Rodgers rung the changes, with Joe Allen coming in for Lucas and Lambert making his debut in place of Coutinho. Allen made things a bit more direct and his impact helped create the winner. Sturridge slipped in the winner after the ball had bounced around the Southampton area with four Liverpool players in the box as they mixed it up. It was relief rather than justification for Rodgers' tactical switch but for now it doesn't matter. Liverpool are off and running with three points - but the conundrum of how to replace Suarez continues and they will need to do more against Manchester City in their second Premier League game. Decider: Sturridge watches as his side footed finish drops into the bottom corner of Forster's net . Relieved: Sturridge celebrates the winner that he provided with a deft touch from Sterling's headed pass .
£75million striker. Daniel Sturridge, cut loose striker. Raheem Sterling went wide on the left Raheem Sterling was on the left with Daniel Sturridge a lone striker and Philippe Coutinho on the right . Making up the numbers: Brendan Rodgers has had to find a way to replace the best confidently gives Liverpool the lead after Jordan incisive through ball cutting through the position and latched on to Jordan Henderson's Liverpool ahead after 23 minutes. But while last Sterling scored the opener. The pacey difficult to create from the wide role and impact helped create the winner. Sturridge players in the box as they mixed it up. It was