Aston Villa could have earned a point after a flurry of late chances but Liverpool have always enjoyed good fortune in this part of the West Midlands. This was a third successive win at Villa Park and they have not lost in the league since their triumph here in March.
A promising start indeed, and Rodgers is counting down the days until the transfer trolley-dash is over in the hope of welcoming Suárez back next month. Sturridge, however, is thriving on the pressure.
"Daniel is a player who, when he's fit, is one of the top strikers in the division," said Rodgers. "He's had a couple of big moves in his career but he just needed to be given that opportunity.
"He's really grown into the club since he came here in January and his record at the moment is outstanding. He needs to keep his focus and if he does the sky is the limit for him.
"It's about the team and Suárez is a world-class striker but the focus will always be on the team. This was an outstanding team performance and I'm delighted with the result because Paul Lambert has galvanised this club."
Liverpool's start has extended the feel-good factor generated by their end to the season and the parallels are there for Lambert – an encouraging end to last season enabled his evolving Villa squad to avoid relegation without the need for late nail-biting.
So far this season, Arsenal's frailties were cruelly exposed on the opening day before Villa threatened to trample all over the Jose Mourinho love-in at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
But they appeared lethargic after such a testing week and the opening goal after 21 minutes was expertly taken by Sturridge. After patient approach work and a sublime dummy from Philippe Coutinho, Sturridge easily pulled away from Antonio Luna to round goalkeeper Brad Guzan before toepoking the ball high into the net.
Villa's long wait for a clean sheet goes on – it is now 25 games since their last shutout.
Christian Benteke had been quiet but, as he proved against Chelsea, he can jump into life suddenly. and the Belgium international almost levelled with his first meaningful contribution of the game four minutes before half-time. Benteke evaded the close attention of Touré to find space in the penalty area, curling in a shot towards the far corner, but Simon Mignolet produced an excellent save.
Villa were vastly improved in the second half but their better chances came late on. Gabriel Agbonlahor shinned a volley wide before substitute Aleksandar Tonev, one of six summer signings, tested Mignolet from distance.
Another new recruit, the towering striker Nicklas Helenius, came on as Lambert went for route one and Benteke was frustrated once again by his compatriot in the visitors' goal. Finally shaking off Toure, Benteke broke clear to volley towards the corner but Mignolet dived superbly to push the ball round the corner.
It was the last chance for the home team, but Villa's supporters can still sense that something is stirring.
Lambert said: "We've played three teams you would expect to be in the top group but we've given them all a good game. The progress is there for everyone to see and if we play like that we'll trouble a lot of teams.
"It's been a big ask [the start] but I've nothing but praise for them."
Match details
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Guzan; Lowton (El Ahmadi 65), Vlaar, Okore, Luna; Bacuna, Westwood (Helenius 83), Delph; Agbonlahor, Benteke, Weimann (Tonev 73).
Subs (not used): Steer (gk), Clark, Herd, Sylla.
Booked: Delph, Luna, Lowton.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Johnson, Toure, Agger, Enrique; Gerrard, Lucas; Henderson, Aspas (Cissokho 69) , Coutinho (Allen83); Sturridge.
Subs (not used): Jones (gk), Alberto, Borini, Sterling, Wisdom.
Booked: Aspas, Johnson, Lucas.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Northumberland).
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