BEN LOCKETT
It has been a long road to consistency for Philippe Coutinho, but now the eyes of the world are on the Brazilian after a series of spectacular performances this season. Rising to stardom with Liverpool, Coutinho will remain at Anfield for a while yet
Sami Hyypia remains Liverpool’s greatest signing, pound for pound, in the modern era, but Philippe Coutinho may yet surpass the Finn if the 24-year-old can continue his new run of form over the long-term.
Costing just over £8 million himself, Coutinho’s signing from Inter Milan is already one of Liverpool’s best purchases in this century, and probably Brendan Rodgers’ best signing for the club.
Daniel Sturridge may dispute that claim, while Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner are ironically building their cases under Rodgers’ successor, Jürgen Klopp. However, with every season that goes by, Coutinho has grown in stature and significance for Liverpool since he arrived in January 2013.
Exciting many in Brazil during his youth, Coutinho struggled when making the move to Europe, joining Italian giants Inter Milan. Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was impressed with the Brazilian international, but he really started to make his mark on loan at Espanyol, managed at the time by current Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Having failed in re-signing Tom Ince from Blackpool, the Reds turned to Coutinho, who again was finding his football limited in Milan.
He immediately made an impression at Anfield with some spectacular passes and assists, influencing Sturridge’s hat-trick away to Fulham and orchestrating Liverpool’s 6-0 win at Newcastle United.
Already Coutinho was being compared to David Silva for his ability to cut through defences with such precise, imaginative passing. But in the following season, he arguably played a more reserved role as the likes of Luis Suarez, Sturridge and Raheem Sterling wreaked havoc.
Coutinho played in a deeper midfield role alongside Jordan Henderson, with Steven Gerrard behind and Sterling ahead in a 4-4-2 diamond formation. However, the Brazilian still enjoyed a considerable impact on Liverpool’s title challenge, with long-range strikes against Fulham and Manchester City allowing Rodgers’ side to maintain their momentum in 2014, before it was sadly cut short by Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
Coutinho has improved year on year at Anfield
Nevertheless, Coutinho’s importance to the side was expanding, as not only could the young talent operate further forward, but he showed in that 2013/14 season his tenacity and relentlessness in midfield, regularly winning the ball back and adding to Rodgers’ direct style of play.
It would serve as useful preparation for the future under a certain German manager, but before Klopp’s arrival Coutinho maintained his starting role for the club, once again playing further forward with the departure of Suarez.
Yet despite featuring in the 2015 PFA Team of the Year, the Brazilian was beginning to come under fire for his lack of consistency and tendency to disappear from games, now only influencing matches through the occasional long-distance goal rather than those defence-splitting passes that he showcased when he arrived at Anfield.
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