GettyImagesDaniel Agger says he never entertained thoughts of a move away from Liverpool

The ambition of a football club can't just be measured by the players that are brought into a set-up, but also in the way stars are retained. It's been a problem for some clubs, most notably Arsenal, that developing talent has evolved into profits rather than loyalty. When Liverpool signed Daniel Agger as a sprightly unpolished central defender from Bromby there were instant signs he had enough class to eventually replace the imperious figure of Sami Hyypia at the heart of the defence. And while injuries have for some part ravaged his career in Merseyside, he has become a crucial cog in the defence.

It was one worrying over the summer that the Danish international might be cajoled by the prospects of Champions League football and lured away from Anfield, with Premier League champions Manchester City lurking in the wings. But after seeing the transfer window through, he has now signed a new bumper contract extension at the club. It shows Liverpool are heading in the right direction and the players can sense it themselves. The deal must feel as important as a new signing for Brendan Rodgers. The Dane is genuinely world-class. His defensive skills are first rate and he has the technical ability of a midfielder. Not only that, he also reads the game intelligently.

Unfortunately, there are leadership issues. And that is possibly why the partnership between him and Martin Skrtel has leaked goals, despite both defenders rarely looking uneasy. Neither of have the same controlling attributes of Jamie Carragher or Hyypia. The talent of the pair is unquestionable but there tends to be a slacking of the defensive string when they are together. This doesn't mean the central pair shouldn't play together. It just means one of them needs to stand up and take charge.

With the number of injuries Agger has suffered it is understandable why frailties in the partnership do exist. Through time together, however, the string must tighten. Both centre backs are suitable in the Rodgers revolution but a first league clean sheet should be seen as a must against Stoke on Sunday. It is now nine matches since the last competitive clean sheet against Hearts in Europa League qualifying and conceding goals only adds to the pressures of Luis Suarez and his fellow forwards to produce at the other end of the pitch.

Sunday's clash, moved back a day because of the match with Udinese in the week, provides Rodgers's new style with its first test against its conflicting belief. So far in the Northern Irishman's Anfield examination he has yet to come up against a team with an ideology juxtaposed to his own. Stoke will press hard at Liverpool's possession based football and use their significant brawn to disrupt the flow of passing.

For the Liverpool youngsters, it will be a clash in all senses of the word. It would therefore not surprise me to see some additional experience added to the side. Stewart Downing performed well on Thursday and could be given another go to save his dwindling career at the club. The winger is an enigma though. Against the Italians on Thursday, he found his purpose and enjoyed having the ball at his feet.

He even managed to create an assist for Jonjo Shelvey's header, something he was maligned for throughout last season. Despite this, he has been marked out of the game too many times with a shyness you might expect from a young debutant. If Rodgers can amend the belief in the England international, it could well be one of his major achievements this season.

Raheem Sterling, twinkle-toes himself, provided another energetic cameo in midweek and should have too much ability for Andy Wilkinson. The only concern is that Wilkinson is a defender from the heart of the old school. A carver slicing his way through the opposition. But will the 17-year-old be able to carry himself and pick himself up from being thundered to the floor? Will he be able to box clever against an opponent greater than his own weight category? If he survives the ordeal with his youthful exuberance intact he will once again show maturity beyond his years.

This sentiment passes through the central midfield too, especially with pint-sized Joe Allen and Nuri Sahin still adapting to the full intensity of English football. Both have a responsibility to remain composed on the ball whatever is thrown at them from their opponents.

Former red, Peter Crouch is loving life at the Britannia Stadium and he will provide the main dangers to Pepe Reina's goal, and the elusive clean sheet. Tony Pulis has enrolled his players to play around the internationally ostracised striker. They know he will dart late to the back-post to attack high floating balls into the box, but so should Skrtel and Agger. What needs to be watched, though, is how he brings his teammates into the game around him, much in the same way Antonio Di Natale caused issues for Udinese.

I would imagine a similar team which started at Carrow Road last weekend to take to the field. Andre Wisdom has yet to do much wrong at right-back and is highly rated by Rodgers, and Glen Johnson linked up exceptionally with Sterling on the left. The midfield dynamic of Allen, Sahin and Steven Gerrard needs time to embed and grow. They have shown they are comfortable at keeping possession together but they need to prove they can consistently unlock solid defences in the league, especially at Anfield.

It's all set up for an intriguing contest and an indication to how Rodgers aims to counteract systems which oppose his own methods.

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