Every team needs a driving force. For Liverpool, the responsibility seems to be falling to Philippe Coutinho.
|||London - Every team needs a driving force, a source of impetus. For Liverpool, with Steven Gerrard now in California and Raheem Sterling in Manchester, the responsibility now seems to be falling to the marvellous little Brazilian, Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool’s new captain is, of course, Jordan Henderson. It was his name above the matchday programme column last night and he who called the coin toss at kick-off - wrongly as it turned out. Early indications this season, however, are that it is Coutinho who is at the heart of Liverpool’s chances in the Barclays Premier League.Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool’s manager, relies on speed of thought and movement for his systems to work - whether his team have the ball or not.
If a cog in the machine does not mesh as quickly as the rest then the whole process falters.That may yet prove to be a problem with Liverpool’s new centre forward Christian Benteke. Despite his first goal for the club here, his wavelength still needs fine tuning.
Coutinho, though, is a player who sets the rhythm rather than one who tries to adjust to it. His winning goal at Stoke City on the opening weekend was timely and provided Liverpool with some welcome momentum to take into this game.
Here, though, was a greater indication of the midfielder’s true worth. Liverpool are blessed with pace. Rodgers’ new full backs Nathaniel Clyne and Joe Gomez have it in abundance, for example. It is Coutinho, though, who gives his team vision, elusiveness and sureness of touch.
Contrast him with the frustrating Adam Lallana and his value becomes clear. The Englishman is not without talent but he does not see pictures developing three frames ahead as Coutinho does. Too often, he can be pushed off the ball or forced into positions where his pass has to be played square or backwards rather than penetrating.
Lallana, in his second season at Anfield, may improve under Rodgers, who is a good coach. Coutinho, in season No 3 on Merseyside, has already made admirable progress.
Oddly, one of his early contributions last night should have seen Liverpool’s opening goal ruled out. His movement towards the ball shortly before Benteke scored at the far post should have been enough to see him flagged for offside under the new interpretation of the rule.
Equally, it was surprising to see Coutinho sidefoot a good chance wide when the ball fell to him in front of the Kop in the 44th minute. That move, though, had been started by a typical Coutinho give-and-go in to the penalty area. On that occasion, the ball came back to him off the legs of a defender but it is the Brazilian’s threat that can push opponents into such moments of panic.
Moments before that, a superb one-two with Benteke led to him thumping a shot just over the bar. Coutinho then produced another deft first touch to ease past Charlie Daniels and the Bournemouth left back was then booked for his last-resort decision to impede him. At his best like this - slipping balls inside defenders for the likes of Gomez and Jordan Ibe to run on to - it is briefly possible to recognise some of the Liverpool of two seasons ago, a team that moved the ball so quickly that it could be dizzying.
This version is still a work in progress and, like the new Main Stand that has inched towards the sky over the summer, it will be so for a rather long time. Liverpool still have issues at centre half. Dejan Lovren was fortunate to win a foul when Tommy Elphick headed in early on while the young hopeful Ibe has not yet settled.
The inclusion of Benteke, who had a much better second half, in no way lessens the need for a fit and firing Daniel Sturridge to return soon. Coutinho, however, remains a constant, a connection to the then and now. Players like him can be looked upon as a luxury or an adornment. Not here, though. At Anfield he represents something fundamental.
@Ian_Ladyman_DM
Daily Mail
from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1E0Sz35
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire