Stoke City manager Mark Hughes were cruelly denied a penalty during their eventual 1-0 loss to Liverpool on Sunday.

The Potters went down to the Reds at home in their 2015/16 Premier League season opener after Philippe Coutinho rifled a stunning long range effort beyond Jack Butland, but it may have been a different story with any luck for the home side.

Hughes felt his team should have been awarded a spot-kick for handball when new signing Ibrahim Afellay shot on target but was still buoyant despite the result in a tense opening affair.

"We are not disappointed with the performance, I thought we were very much in the game," he said.,

"I thought we were the better team in the first half, had good chances and should have had a penalty when Afellay had a goal-bound shot and (Nathaniel) Clyne basically saved it with both his hands.

"There are a lot of positives for a first outing. With 10-15 minutes to go, I thought both teams were happy to let the game peter out but the lad produced a moment of brilliance."

Stoke will now prepare for next Saturday's trio to London to take on Tottenham.