He is known affectionately as ‘The Little Magician.’ He wears the number 10 shirt previously donned by club legends such as Terry McDermott, John Barnes and Michael Owen. He’s the jewel in the crown and will to the relief of the Anfield faithful, if contracts are worth the paper they’re written on these days, remain the prized possession of Liverpool Football Club until at least 2022 after signing a new five-and-a-half year contract just last week.
In all honesty, it’s been a torrid January for Liverpool. February can’t come quick enough for Jürgen Klopp and his men. Premier League draws away at struggling Sunderland and north-west rivals Manchester United and a home defeat to relegation candidates Swansea. Add to that League Cup elimination at the semi-final stage to Southampton preventing a mouth-watering final date with arch enemies United. And most recently, FA Cup embarrassment at the hands of Championship club Wolves means the Reds, currently 10 points adrift of Chelsea, only have the league left to play for.
Good News for Kop After Awful January
January did however provide one very bright spot, well two in fact, with the return of diminutive attacker Philippe Coutinho from injury, and then news of his acceptance of a lucrative new contract to keep him tied to the club for years to come. Since former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers plucked him from Serie A giants Inter Milan in January 2013, Coutinho has endeared himself to the Kop with a series of match-winning performances and stunning long range strikes. He has become such an integral part of Liverpool’s make up that Catalan giants Barcelona are rumoured to have been sniffing around his signature.
But after committing his long-term future to Klopp’s work in progress, any transfer would likely cost an interested party tens of millions of pounds, not that he’s planning on moving anywhere anytime soon. Coutinho, who grew up idolising former Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldinho, has developed an almost telepathic relationship with attacking trio Adam Lallana, fellow countryman Roberto Firmino and the lightning quick Sadio Mané. With Klopp adopting a high intensity pressing game with the focus on regaining possession as quickly as possible and hitting the opposition on the break equally as fast, the quartet led Liverpool to the summit of the table before an ankle ligament injury in November sidelined Coutinho for over six weeks.
The Classic Brazilian Number 10
He follows in a long list of classic Brazilian number 10’s including the likes of Zico, Ronaldinho and Kaká, full of artistry and imagination, dribbling skills with a low centre of gravity and an uncanny ability to find the net with unerring accuracy from seemingly impossible positions. His chances of joining the aforementioned as legends of the game will depend on his ability to fulfil his enormous potential and win titles with Liverpool and Brazil. A regular at international level already, he endeared himself forever to fans of the Seleção with a trademark long range strike in Brazil’s commanding 3-0 victory over Argentina in a 2018 World Cup qualifier last year.
Coutinho had contributed five goals and five assists before his injury but if he is to finish the season as a Premier League champion he along with top goalscorer Mané, who has now returned from African Cup of Nations duty, will be central to the club’s title challenge. He has already come close to picking up a silverware on numerous occasions, collecting consolation medals as Liverpool finished losing finalists to Manchester City in the 2016 League Cup final and to Sevilla in the 2016 Europa League final. He also came agonisingly close to helping Liverpool end their 24-year wait for a 19th league title when the Reds crumbled with the Premier League trophy within their grasp in 2014.
Coutinho the Key to Reds Ending 27 Year Wait
This May will mark the 27-year anniversary of Liverpool’s last crowning as champions of England. The club currently occupy fourth place, the final Champions League qualifying spot. But for Liverpool’s demanding and long-suffering supporters, fourth place isn’t good enough, neither is second or third. The mentality of Kopites is one they share with the legendary Bill Shankly who famously said, ” If you are first you are first. If you are second, you are nothing.”
The latest Premier League title odds suggest the chances of Liverpool ending their excruciating wait this year are slim (they’re priced as long as 20/1 for the title with some bookies). If they can overturn Chelsea’s commanding lead it will undoubtedly require ‘The Kid’ as he is also known to play a sizeable role. And if he can inspire the club to a long overdue Premier League title, something club legend Steven Gerrard unfortunately never managed, the boy from Brazil will etch his name into Liverpool’s glorious history alongside the likes of Stevie G, Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and gain the legendary status he has admitted to craving so much from the adoring Kop.
Author bio:
Chris qualified from the University of Brighton in 2007 with a degree in Sports Journalism and is a sports fanatic, spending pretty much all his money following the Welsh football team all over Europe (and yes spending five weeks on tour with Wales in France at Euro 2016). He has written for numerous websites and has two fully published football biographies to his name. Chris also enjoys rugby union, cycling and darts and enjoys a regular (daily!) punt on football.