Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool > FC Barcelona)

I want to see coutinho step up to the next level now, he's not really progressed much since he first joined.

I think he can excel in ANY of the roles highlighted in this thread. In my opinion some of the inconsistency has more to do with the supporting cast rather than the player himself. I like him in a 10 shirt but I think he can also be very effective from an inside left position or playing deeper in an 8 shirt. Since Suarez departure, the loss of Sterling and the injuries to Studge (and the time it has taken him to get back to fitness) I think it has all fallen on Coutinho. Put him in a side with other skilful players, surround him with some pace and a couple of players who like to run in behind and we'll see the best of him. He has games when we has 6-7 pot shots at goal from all over the place BUT I dare say that is because he feels like he needs to take those shots, particularly when he has been playing with statuesque forwards like Balotelli and Benteke the past couple of seasons.

He will be better this season. Mane will stretch the pitch with his pace and skill and Studge looks like he might have regained some of the pace (and willingness) to play on the shoulder again in 2016-17. I think the little magician will have that little bit more room to play his game this season and I would expect to see his assists count to go up and his shot counter to reduce some what.

I want to see coutinho step up to the next level now, he's not really progressed much since he first joined.

Not sure if you are serious... His improvement from Inter has been nothing short of incredible - what more do you want from him, bearing in mind he is only 24 still...

Not sure if you are serious... His improvement from Inter has been nothing short of incredible - what more do you want from him, bearing in mind he is only 24 still...

Agreed, that was a ridiculous statement.

24 is the perfect age to show what he can do now. I'm expecting big things

Top scorer in the League.

Only player to score twice on the opening day.

Still our little magician.

Get him into a game and we improve three-fold.

Guess he doesn't need preseason (other than fitness).

Can't afford to leave him out when he produces magic like he did.

Coutinho's free kick was stunning! He made such a great little run for his second too.

Has to be played as a CAM for me. Even if it means dropping Firmino. If we lined up like so we'd be so dangerous against anyone:

                       Sturridge
           Origi     Coutinho     Mane

Either that or play Firmino out on the left? Phil has to be in the centre for me.

Both Phil and Firmino are likely to be called up for the Brazil squad in September.

Well done to both of them if the rumours are true.

I genuinely think that the inconsistency still in his game is the reason that Real or Barca haven't made a move for him yet. There is no denying that he is world class, and that may be part of the issue, at times he may well get the ball, look around and think "I don't fancy these lads to get us out of this" and take a pot shot... repeatedly. But I think if he can find a way to unlock those situations with something else, some of his magic, then the big money will come knocking. I don't like making the comparison too much but it's the way it went with Suarez, the talent was always there, in his early years at the club we seen it in flashes, in his last season we seen it every week.

Club have made arrangements to get Coutinho back from South American qualifiers close to a day earlier by arranging special flights for Phil. Brazil play on Tuesday in Manaus, which is on the edge of the Amazon Rain Forest.

Great cameo against Colombia; changed the game, made the assist to Neymar victory goal, could have scored twice, the crowd was screaming his name; but the coach Tite said that "he plays on the same position as Neymar"  ..

How many times has Cou been the difference in tight games. Hopefully he's coming in fresh and in form and can have the influence on the game that he's capable of.  Cmon Phil, dig another one out of the bag for us...

Opened his assists account for the season

Thought he was the poorest outfield player for us, but he has the ability/awareness to conjure moments of magic that'll lead to goal chances, regardless of whether he's playing good or not.

Thought he was the poorest outfield player for us, but he has the ability/awareness to conjure moments of magic that'll lead to goal chances, regardless of whether he's playing good or not.

Thought he played well enough and was better than Sturridge and Origi for sure. Was linking some good bits of play and thought he was good defensively too because he was tracking back and winning the ball. Something I noticed though, more so in the second half, when we would have bit of a break, there was a fair few times when he was in loads of space in a good position on the edge of the box but the player on the ball either didn't pick their head up and see him or picked the wrong pass.

Thought he played well enough and was better than Sturridge and Origi for sure.

Oh yeah, I forgot about those 2!

As poor as Chelsea's defence was for Lovren's goal that whipped cross in from such a long way out was F***ing superb.

I thought he was pretty quiet against Chelsea apart from his assist...apparently not :-

https://twitter.com/MelissaReddy_/status/776910547002527744

Remember those rent boys who said that Oscar was a better player than Coutinho.

Get this boy on a new improved contract, coming through as one of the best in the league

Get this boy on a new improved contract, coming through as one of the best in the league

Really liked him in a more central position.

Not sure many teams will allow him the space afforded to both he and Milner but he used it expertly.