Philippe Coutinho

[SB]

Coutinho vs West Ham


PC10 - YouTube

Could watch that again & again. Thanks as always bud.

[vlahka]

Coutinho thrives on runners. He looked average without them earlier this season, which is why I hold back just now on saying he's top quality. Great to watch.

He's a team player, very unselfish. Which is why he's perfect for our system. Always looking for the pass to someone. . And the main reason why I think he'll be our most important player over the next bunch of years.

[Bender]

Sometimes he borders on the edge of being World Class and Average!just needs to find that consistency but he is an amazing player,he sees and makes passes nobody else can,also playing with better players is another factor in his development and this has shown with Sterling and now Sturridge coming back.

[vlahka]

He's going to be better for us than Alonso was here and after at madrid, and I absolutely love Alonso. Forever pissed at Benitez for driving him out.

[Paddy]

Why are people focusing on the negative with regards to Coutinho? He is a fabulous player. And as long as he's in the team ahead of the Welsh Xavi I'm happy

[wiw]

Coutinho vs West Ham


PC10 - YouTube

Cheers Mo.

Just watched that twice, the first time focusing on Coutinho, the second time focusing on the opposing players he absolutely mugs off time and again It's hilarious watching players try and tackle him or second guess what he's going to do

[Shaggy]

paul joyce @pjoyceexpress
Philippe Coutinho agrees new contract with Liverpool to run until 2020.

[Buzzo]

Coutinho signs until 2020, I could see that coming.

[Shaggy]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/philippe-coutinho-agree-new-liverpool-8567081

Philippe Coutinho is on the brink of penning a new long-term contract as Brendan Rodgers backed Liverpool FC’s “little magician” to achieve world class status.

The ECHO understands the Brazil international has agreed in principle a deal to keep him at Anfield until 2020. The paperwork should be concluded by the end of this week.

Getting Coutinho’s future sorted out represents a significant boost for the manager. Liverpool have been keen to reward the 22-year-old playmaker for the impact he has made since his £8.5million move from Inter Milan two years ago.

Coutinho’s outstanding form has been key to Liverpool’s revival in recent months and he provided both assists in Saturday’s 2-0 win over West Ham.

His only weakness is his finishing with just two goals in 31 games this season. But Rodgers believes Coutinho will increase that output over the coming years and establish himself as one of Europe’s greatest talents.

“Young Phil is performing at a real high level and it’s a great to see because he’s a little magician with the ball,” Rodgers said.

“The rhythm of his game is good. His courage and bravery to get on the ball is fantastic.

“If he can continue to improve – he can improve his goal scoring ability – then he will get into that bracket of being world class.

“He has got a wonderful strike on him, inside and outside the box. It will just be about arriving in areas where he can make movements without the ball because once he is in there he has got a decent finish on him.“

"His game has been about making goals but I think as he gets more experience he will understand better and there will be other players to make those final passes. That will allow him to penetrate a little bit further forward.

“He will be looking to improve the accuracy in his shooting. Sometimes you see him dragging the shot but at the minute I don’t have many complaints about him.

“He is pressing the game really well, he is aggressive and hunting the ball. You see his quality in his two assists at the weekend. They were sublime.

“The first pass was incredible invention, he was half looking away when he made the pass and the second one looks an easy pass but he has put it to the correct side for Daniel’s touch and finish. Hopefully in the years to come, the goals will come more readily for him.”

Rodgers has likened Coutinho’s role at Liverpool to the contribution of Real Madrid duo Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.

“You look at Modric, he doesn’t have a big goal scoring record but he is a world class player,” Rodgers said.

“He is a continuity player, he takes the ball in the middle of the field, he can make the passes, serving the ball from behind and he gets the odd goal from outside the box.

“He is a top class player who opens the door for the team in the centre of midfield. Toni Kroos is another of that type - a wonderful footballer and great passer.

“Those two maybe don’t get as many goals as their technique would suggest but that goes back to their role in the team. Their role is to sit behind the ball and serve the ball and create the game for others - not necessarily to score 15 or 20 goals a season.

“Phil’s numbers will improve but it’s not the be all and end all if he doesn’t get 20 goals. His functions are elsewhere in the team.”

Rodgers believes Coutinho, who endured a tough start to the season, has benefited from the greater energy and mobility Liverpool have had up front in recent months.

The Reds boss has played Raheem Sterling as a central striker and now Daniel Sturridge is back fit. The duo both scored against the Hammers after being picked out by Coutinho.

“He’s come into his own over the past couple of months,” Rodgers said.

“That’s purely because of the movement in front. He’s a creator. He looks for the last pass.

“For that type of player, you need that movement in front of the ball and people to penetrate in behind.

“At the beginning of the season we didn’t quite have that in the team. Phil was maybe on the ball that bit longer and getting caught more than he usually would. But you see him now and he’s in a real good moment.”

Sturridge netted on his comeback against West Ham after five months out injured but he isn’t yet ready to start matches. He’s likely to be on the bench for Wednesday’s FA Cup tie at Bolton.

“We just need to be careful with Dan as he’s been out a long time,” Rodgers said.

“It’s clear he’s not at the stage to start matches yet but he’s able to play a part. Him coming back for the second half of the season is a real help for us.

“The beauty of him is that he makes others around him better. We saw the impact of him when he came on. That’s what good players do – they give others confidence.”

[McDermotX]

Good stuff. Should increase his value for when we sell him on next season.

Everybody wins.

[Shaggy]

Rodgers' football smarm talk can sometimes grate... ...all this "serve the ball from behind", "press the game" etc. Come on man.

[EwarWoo]

It takes real man strength to go out and talk like that in public.

[vlahka]

[Assassin]

rick: rocj

[BigChief]

At least Coutinho and Sturridge will (should) remain loyal to us for a few years. Along with Henderson. Made up with this news.