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Coutinho’s time to shine

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Did Liverpool see the best of Coutinho often enough last season?

Did Liverpool see the best of Coutinho often enough last season?

This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I was a little disappointed by Phillipe Coutinho last season.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think he’s a fantastic little player. After his explosive introduction to the team in the second half of the 2012/13 season, I probably expected too much of him. When he joined, Coutinho was an unknown quantity; a surprise package full of goals and assists. That early form in the pressure-free environment in which we ended that season fooled everyone into believing that the Brazilian magician would simply pick up from where he left off in August.

It wasn’t that simple. In his first half season, no one expected Coutinho to do much when he arrived. Incapable of holding down a place at Inter Milan, he was sold off for a mere £8m and the general perception was that he was a wasted talent. Which is why he shocked opposition defenders so much when he showed the Premier League just how much class and ability he possessed. When the next season began, he no longer had that surprise factor.

In the first half of the opening game at home to Stoke, Coutinho was on a flier, delivering through balls constantly and continuing to be a genuine threat. But, like the rest of the team, he tailed off in the second half and I felt he struggled  a bit in our next few games until his injury at the hands of Swansea’s Ashley Williams ruled him out for nearly 2 months.

Defenders were already giving him extra attention, knowing that if they stopped him from using the ball effectively then they cut off Sturridge’s supply line, who was operating as a lone striker at the time. But that injury made things even harder, as when he came back he looked rusty and struggled to get back into the swing of things. He definitely upped his game in the big clashes with the likes of Man City and Chelsea, but I felt he struggled to influence games at times, especially during the winter period.

One main flaw of his was his erratic shooting. Perhaps spurred on by a desperate attempt to be included in the World Cup squad, Coutinho kept taking pot shots from distance, occasionally scoring a worldie but more often than not, his efforts would always skew horribly wide.

He definitely improved again towards the end of the season as his role at the tip of the midfield diamond was alternated between him and Sterling, but he never quite became the world class player I thought he would.

This season things can change. Missing the World Cup gives Coutinho a huge advantage over those who did, as he’ll have had a long rest period that lets him come back fresh and ready hit the ground running for the new season. If he can sort out his finishing, I firmly believe that Coutinho can be one of our best players next year, even with Lallana providing competition for him.

With a season and a half under his belt, it’s time for Coutinho to prove that he can be a superstar we all know he can be. The timing has never been more perfect.

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Drummer, gamer and football fanatic. I love to write about Liverpool and spend most of my time thinking about the mighty Reds. That or Game of Thrones.

11 comments

  • Olabisi says:

    Coutiho has improved during pre season game played and i’m expecting great pass from him this season,i love him when playing on pitch,YNWA

  • ss says:

    i think he responded to the criticism well last season, he built up his body strength to cope better in a physical league and even started to get invloved in winning the ball back.
    if anything he tried too hard to be the player everyone expected and tried too hard. If he chills out this season on the pitch a bit i dont see any problems.
    a summer off will also make a difference, not being involved in the wc or that aweful national side is a blessing.

  • tony says:

    which player was worldclass at 21,he is a wonderfull player

  • pino pino says:

    I love Coutinho but his shooting lets him down.

  • Abdulnasser nsubuga says:

    I’m just worried about his long range off targets!

  • Benkalyx says:

    No doubt he will soon be a worldclass player. I love the way he plays

  • Tengey Michael says:

    Good player but must step up his game coming season

  • davidsonz says:

    a good guy,nice on the ball,the skills,dribbles,passess,vision for through balls makes me love him but he must improve his shootings.

  • isles says:

    mr pass he his blessd wit pass nd skills i luv him keep it up nd work hard nxt seasn

  • bright osei says:

    Coutinho has started well dis season nd i hope he will continue with it

  • breezy says:

    He’s magical through balls ..its only long range shots I consider hendo better dan him…his good

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