Allen: Coutinho has taken things to the next level
Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho has gone to the next level in terms of his performances and is still improving, according to team-mate Joe Allen.
The little Brazil international scored a brilliant winner in the 2-1 victory over Manchester City, putting a huge dent in their hopes of retaining their Premier League title.
It was the second successive weekend the 22-year-old had produced a decisive wonder-strike but the quality of his all-round game, which has been excellent in the last three months, was another factor in his performance against the visitors.
Manager Brendan Rodgers is already marvelling at how they managed to pick him up from Inter Milan two years ago for £8.5million – which is now looking like an absolute steal.
“He’s so good. The Brazilian team is obviously full of talent but he has to be really pushing for that,” said Allen, the Wales midfielder who put in an inspired performance on St David’s Day – arguably his best for the club.
“With his performances recently he’s taken things to the next level.
“I think some people forget how young he is at times. He’s a young player getting better all the time.
“Working with him day in day out he shows his quality every time he trains and plays and he scored a superb winner to get us the three points.”
Coutinho has scored three times, all stunning efforts, in his last seven matches having scored 10 in the preceding 24 months.
“I think it’s confidence. That’s huge thing in football. The ability has always been there,” explained Allen.
“He showed with the goals he’s scored that he has that as part of his game. He was always on this path.
“Those of us who work with him on a daily basis always knew he was going to kick on and reach this kind of level.”
The result lifted Liverpool into fifth – three points off third-placed Arsenal and now only seven behind City in second – and Allen said: “It’s probably our biggest win of the season in terms of the timing of it.”
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini refuses to give up on a successful defence of their title despite leaders Chelsea being five points ahead with a match in hand against bottom side Leicester.
“We never give up about the title. We must try to improve our play first and after that try to win our next game,” he said.
“You never know in football what will happen. It is more difficult when you have less games and you continue with the same points.
“The team must think about how we can win the next game. We are worried about our team, not the other teams that are behind us.
“We will see in the reaction in the next game (at home to Leicester).
“Every point we drop is more difficult.”
