Not bad for a player with a bad back 😉
You can call Philippe Coutinho what you like – and in recent weeks the good people of Liverpool have called him every name under the sun – but one thing you can’t deny is that he is a sublimely gifted footballer. There was few players in world football who combine his ability to dribble, shoot from distance, and play a killer ball.
That combination of skill, power and vision is why Barcelona were desperate to sign him this week – and why they’ll be gutted to have missed out on him. As for Liverpool and their supporters, they are left with a rare talent with a major cob-on. You can understand why they are less than impressed with his sulky behaviour.
That said, there are worst predicaments in the world than to have a miffed little genius on your hands – especially in a World Cup year. Expect Coutinho’s mysterious stress-induced back pain to magically clear up as he’s slowly welcomed back into the Anfield fold. And if he produces magic like this, all will soon be forgiven.
The 25-year-old played for Brazil against Ecuador on Thursday in a World Cup qualifier, and scored the second goal in a comfortable 2-0 victory. But it was a pass in the build up to his strike that really caught the eye.
Beating three men in midfield with ease with a burst of pace and neat shimmy, he scooped a quite delicious pass to Jesus Gabriel in the area, who then laid on the assist. But the sheer audacity and technique of Coutinho’s delivery was something else, and led to gasps in the Arena do Gremio…
Jesus may have turned water into wine, but #Coutinho 's back recovery has to be up there with the very best miracles going… #LFC #YNWA pic.twitter.com/gkc64mqNWM
— Sam Quek (@SamanthaQuek) September 1, 2017
Such sumptuous ammunition to onrushing teammates like Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane should be a signature of the season, as long as the mercurial Brazilian gets his head straight and (eventually) regains the support of the Anfield faithful. He has already shown hints of linking up with new man Salah in pre-season, and the signs are there’s much more to come…
Never ones to resist a quality pass but this one from Coutinho to Salah is perfect in every sense. The weight on it is exquisite pic.twitter.com/Vy0IZISxzn
— The Analysis (@_theanalysis_) July 30, 2017
Coutinho + salah = goal !
🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/MHGDiuGYlh
— Rayan (@thisKlopp) July 30, 2017
