Brendan Rodgers can be guilty of hyperbole at times.
The man who once said that ‘you can live without water for many days, but you can’t live for a second without hope’, was effusive in his praise of Liverpool’s No 10 yesterday.
‘I think he’s a star in the Premier League already,’ said Rodgers. ‘He joined us for £8.5m three years ago, it’s frightening to know what he could be worth now’.
Philippe Coutinho was magnificent again on Sunday, continuing his fantastic form and scoring another cracking goal.
Does Rodgers have a point about the Brazilian midfielder? Is he worth a ‘frightening amount’? Or is it more hyperbole from the Liverpool manager?
The level Coutinho hopes to reach, that of a midfield maestro, who consistently has a decisive effects on games, has already been set by Cesc Fabregas and David Silva.
Coutinho appeared unsuited to Premier League football in his early days at Liverpool in January 2013. He was clearly a talented footballer, but got tired easily, was of slight frame and finished poorly. Inter Milan, a team in the doldrums, also let him go for a paltry amount. There was perhaps more to suggest the transfer wouldn’t work out.
However, his performance against Manchester City on Sunday is symbolic of the progress he’s made in the time since.
The Liverpool midfielder was the best player on the pitch, scoring a brilliant goal and overshadowing Silva’s contribution. Coutinho completed more dribbles, shots and passes in the final third than any of his team-mates and even helped out defensively. The Brazilian was putting in tackles and pressing hard in a brilliant all-round performance.
Whereas Coutinho was always effective at playing through balls and dribbling, he was let down by his wasteful finishing. Coutinho averaged 2.85 shots per game last season, scoring just five goals, and 2.37 attempts this season, with four so far. He shoots considerably more than both Silva and Fabregas, but, until recently, rarely found the net.
It’s no wonder then Rodgers is so happy with his recent goalscoring form.
‘We said he has to improve his goals because of the quality he has’, the Liverpool boss said on Sunday.’He’s now shooting like a proper Brazilian’.
Coutinho was shooting like a Brazilian before, but is now finishing more like Ronaldo, and less like Fred.
His tendency to shoot a lot, and his new-found ability to find the net, makes Coutinho a potentially formidable prospect. Whereas defenders could retreat, safe in the knowledge that he was unlikely to score, they now back off at their peril. Coutinho can score from distance, or, if defenders step-up to close him down, slip one of his team-mates through.
This added dimension is a key factor in what separates very good players from the level of world class. Silva and Fabregas rarely fail to effect games, they drift into space, see passes before anyone else and make everyone around them better. The other necessary requirement is consistency.
While Coutinho’s style isn’t directly comparable to the Spanish pair, it’s their levels of consistency and effect on games he seeks to emulate. It remains to be seen if he will, but he evidently has the raw material and the work ethic to make the most of his ability. He’s also in the right team.
Coutinho struggled more than most at Liverpool in the first half of this season, following the departure of Luis Suarez and the absence of the injured Daniel Sturridge. In December Rodgers altered his tactics. Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert were dropped from the forward line, in favour of the infinitely more energetic Raheem Sterling. Steven Gerrard’s recent injury means he is no longer lumbering in midfield, Liverpool have rediscovered some of their swagger from last season and Coutinho is reaping the benefits.
In a TV interview after Liverpool’s recent win over Southampton, Rodgers said Coutinho’s stunning goal was the result of the team creating space for him. On the surface, it seems like the Liverpool manager indirectly paid himself a compliment, which he did, but he had a point.
Liverpool’s fluid movement, and the space it creates, is ideal for Coutinho to exploit.
Coutinho is just 22 years old, so he has time to reach the level of 29-year-old Silva or 27-year-old Fabregas.
Both had achieved more in the game at the Brazilians age, but not all players develop along the same lines. However, a continued starring role for in Liverpool’s push for the Champions League will go a long way to prove he’s a genuine contender.
Rodgers’ hyperbole might turn out to be foresight and Coutinho could develop into an all-round world class player. He also isn’t the first manager to get excited about the player. ‘I do think Coutinho has that same quality that Ronaldinho and Messi have, but he has much to prove yet,’ Mauricio Pochettino said.
The Tottenham Hotspur manager coached Coutinho at Espanyol and clearly shares Rodgers’ optimism. However, such comparison is unfair. Coutinho may become a decisive player, but there’s probably only one No 10 in the Premier League who can potentially be mentioned in the same breath as former world players of the year.
Eden Hazard is two years older than Coutinho, but is, currently, a much more effective player. While not a midfield maestro in the mould of Silva or Fabregas, Hazard has a similar, decisive effect on games.
Hazard shoots as much as Coutinho and creates as many chances as Silva and Fabregas. He’s become one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League and has the ability to grace any team in the world.
Coutinho may potentially reach close to the Spanish pair’s level, but it’s difficult to imagine him emulating Hazard.
