19 Oct 2016

Souness raves: 'Incredible' £40m Liverpool star is like Barcelona's 'Andres Iniesta'. Agree...?

Reds legend Graeme Souness has compared Philippe Coutinho to one Barcelona's greatest players of the modern era.

Coutinho is constantly linked with a move to the Nou Camp, and speaking to Sky Sports this week, Souness explained:

“He [Coutinho] makes them [Liverpool] tick. He’s an Andres Iniesta type, he’s capable of goals but most importantly he’s capable of making the right pass at the right time in the last third of the pitch. When he’s at it, Liverpool are at it.”

The Iniesta comparison is an obvious one, but in my view, it's a bit of a red herring as both players operate in different areas of the pitch. Iniesta is more of a playmaker, who dictates the game from a deeper position; Coutinho often plays very high up the field, either from the left, or in the number-10 role.

Iniesta basically pulls the strings behind Barcelona's front three, whereas Coutinho - previously hailed by Souness as 'incredible' - is part of the advanced front three for Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp has tried Coutinho in a more 'Iniesta-type' role this season, but so far, it is not working, and only serves to neuter the Brazilian's effectiveness. Indeed, prior to the position change, Coutinho grabbed 7 goals/assists in 7 games, but since moving deeper into midfield, he hasn't scored/or created a goal. Coincidence? I think not.

Of course, the irony is that Coutinho is in the frame to possibly replace the ageing Iniesta, a player he admires:

"He [Iniesta] is my idol. It's a pleasure to watch him play, and I like to analyse his game"

Is a deeper midfield role is the best use of Coutinho's talents?

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^ Coutinho: £40m-rated.


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