It’s rather reductive to suggest that Philippe Coutinho is a one-trick pony.
But when the trick in question is as effective as his, maybe it’s not all that bad a conclusion to draw.
In Saturday’s feisty Merseyside derby, Coutinho scored Liverpool’s second of the game just moments after Everton drew level thanks to the tap-in from young defender Matthew Pennington.
After dropping deep to accept the ball, he danced into the Toffees box and sold a dummy to Pennington before he cut inside on to his favoured right foot and curled the ball into the top corner, beyond the static Joel Robles.
It was the classic Coutinho goal insofar as he showed off his fancy footwork and underrated pace before he cut inside, a position from which he’s always going to target the far corner.
It was a wondergoal, there’s no doubting that, but supporters watching noted that the Brazilian may be developing a similar habit to Bayern Munich’s winger Arjen Robben.
Robben has made a career out of cutting in from the right flank on to his left foot and curling the ball beyond the opposition ‘keeper.
He did it at Chelsea. He did it at Real Madrid. And he continues to terrorise Bundesliga defenders with his trademark trick.
Opposition players know what he is going to do but, just like Coutinho has found, they can’t seem to do anything about it.
No difference btw coutinho and robben in the way they scored their goals #typical
— ♚Sheggzzzz♚ (@theNavigatoor) April 1, 2017
Coutinho is basically Arjen Robben with a right foot. Do you not know what he's going to do ffs 😩
— Oji-san (@Kashief_) April 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/Rash_Bash01/status/848143677688078336
https://twitter.com/Youknow_Calvinn/status/848143703940239364
Coutinho is just a right footed Arjen Robben. You know what he's going to do but can you stop it?
— 6lack-Mo (@Rocstarsupanova) April 1, 2017
Letting Coutinho shift the ball to his right is akin to letting Robben shift to his left, there's only going to be one outcome
— Kunta Kinte (@ArseneBanter) April 1, 2017
Lol this kinda goals from Coutinho always looking like Robben typa, you know where they're going but will most likely score
— Horla (@Horlatunde) April 1, 2017
Coutinho, Inverted Robben
— Shovel (@SeyiSoneye) April 1, 2017
Swear Robben and Coutinho always score the same goal💀
— BAAADMAN. (@tolaafc) April 1, 2017
Coutinho is right footed Arjen Robben #LIVEVE
— Hamid Jalal (@madridistalogy) April 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/MrLil8/status/848144029598576640
Coutinho is the right foot equivalent of Arjen Robben. With more hair too.
— Bambino (@_CrissoN) April 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/Salmanutd/status/848144077216514049
https://twitter.com/IAmJoshua_/status/848145522372345856
Coutinho sort of becoming the right-footed Robben with that cut inside and curl into the far corner finish.
— James Dall (@JamesDall_) April 1, 2017
