Damaged goods: Why Liverpool attacker is no longer one of PL elite (not Sturridge)
COMMENT By Matt Farr
Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore gave a brutal assessment of Philippe Coutinho in his Boyle Sports column earlier this week, after the Brazilian was once again linked with a move to Barcelona.
Coutinho, 24, has been a phenomenal player for Liverpool since his arrival from Inter Milan in 2013, which is understandably why he has been tipped with a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
However, Collymore was particularly critical of the Liverpool attacker for his inconsistency, and he raises a fair point.
The main problem with Coutinho is that while he is capable of changing games, he does not do it often enough for Liverpool.
Perhaps that is because Liverpool have too many different characters in their attack, or because Coutinho is playing in a less influential role; but he should be giving more.
He can’t hide behind that promising tag anymore. The time has come for him to really kick on and cement his place in Liverpool’s, and in the Premier League’s history, but the spark seems to have temporarily gone out.
The issue this season has been an ankle injury. Coutinho made a blistering start to the season with six goals and six assists before being sidelined in December, a run of form that saw Liverpool soar into contention for the Premier League title.
However, since his return in the new year, he has not been the same player. His ankle problem appears to have taken his toll on him, and either he is scared about doing further damage, or he is just making a slow start.
But either way, he’s in danger of becoming damaged goods. He isn’t performing to the best of his ability, or to the standard that the Premier League has witnessed for the last couple of seasons.
If Liverpool earn a place in the top four this season and qualify for the Champions League, their achievements will be recognised for the efforts of the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino – not Coutinho, unless he has a dramatic turnaround in form.
With such ability trapped inside, he could be hitting the same heights as Eden Hazard or Dele Alli this season. The fact that he isn’t should be a worry for Liverpool.
He is no longer the focal point of the attack, and what is even worse – as Collymore suggests – he could even be expendable.
In other Liverpool news, Ragnar Klavan has made a big statement about his future at the club.
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