Philippe Coutinho had not recovered from the pain of missing out on a World Cup in Brazil when the new Premier League season opened in August. Having been overlooked by Luiz Felipe Scolari for a squad that included Fred, Bernard and Jô, it is doubtful he ever will.
"I am going to use this anger and push myself to my limits," said the Rio-born creator. Those limits, thankfully for Liverpool, are stretching by the week.
In fairness to Scolari and a Brazil squad that was more Fernandinho than Coutinho last summer, reservations over whether the former Vasco da Gama protege possessed the requisite end product were still being aired at Liverpool until a few months ago. Brendan Rodgers has long championed the 22-year-old as potentially world class, albeit with the proviso that certain aspects of his game – chiefly goalscoring – would have to improve. Sunday's glorious winner against Manchester City showed the advice has been taken on board.
New contract
The Liverpool manager cited the security of a new contract as a factor in Coutinho’s increased productivity following the 2-1 win over the champions, a result that would have impressed under any circumstances but carried extra weight after the squad’s 4.19am return from Istanbul on Friday.
The statistics support that theory. In 31 games before signing a new five-year deal in February, Liverpool’s number 10 had scored twice this season. He has three goals in seven outings since committing his future to Anfield, although coaching outweighs the comfort of a contract when it comes to accuracy in front of goal.
Rodgers has been encouraging Coutinho to shoot more often all season. The problem, he admitted is the Brazilian's natural instinct to create rather than curl exquisite angled finishes over Joe Hart.
“He is a player that has always assisted and made the final pass in his career,” the Liverpool manager explained.
“He is a very selfless player and a very humble young guy who would rather create for others. We are encouraging him to shoot more often. He has a wonderful body movement around the box, he doesn’t need many touches to shift it and shoot, as you saw with the phenomenal shot to beat Joe Hart at that angle. His technique is at a high level so he is going to score more goals. He is now arriving into the right areas more often. He is starting to get success and that encourages him to shoot more.”
Transformation
Coutinho has reflected and underpinned Liverpool’s own remarkable transformation this season. The €11.7m signing from
Internazionale
– €11.7m, it is worth repeating – was one of those most affected by the changes forced on Rodgers’s team during the opening four months of the campaign.
Without Luis Suárez’s movement or the injured Daniel Sturridge’s penetrating runs to look for, and Raheem Sterling not shifted into the striker’s role until November, Coutinho dwelt longer on the ball and lost possession more often. Now his options have improved, so too his form and Liverpool’s results, and it underlines the Brazilian’s importance that Rodgers rested him in Turkey to enhance the prospects of a top-four finish against City.
The world-class tag remains in the distance but he has the vision to locate it plus the work-rate required. There was a minimum of fuss over his new contract, certainly in comparison to the attempts to secure the long-term services of Sterling and Jordan Henderson, a reflection of his contentment.
“He loves it here,” said Rodgers, who believes Coutinho’s development will be measured not by goals but his ability to invite comparisons with the Real Madrid duo Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
“He is playing for a team that wants to play technically. He is a kid that wants to train every day, a joy to work with. £8.5million he cost us. It is frightening to think what he could be worth now.”
Guardian Service
