Philippe Coutinho: It’s time the former Liverpool playmaker started proving his worth at Barcelona

Philippe Coutinho: It’s time the former Liverpool playmaker started proving his worth at Barcelona
On the one-year anniversary of signing for Barcelona for a mega 142m, Philippe Coutinho kicked off his evening by sitting on the bench and watching a starting place pass him by – for the fourth league game in a row.A natural point of reflection thanks to the date, you have to wonder what the Brazilian was thinking when he got the team news for the La Liga trip to Getafe.Perhaps his mind also wandered back to England, where Liverpool are mounting their most serious challenge for the Premier League title in years – lying four points clear of closest rivals Manchester City.5

The Brazilian made the switch from Anfield to the Camp Nou a year ago, but has struggled to make a big impact

Many expected the departures of the likes of Luis Suarez and Coutinho to send the Reds spiralling backwards – but the polar opposite has occured.It has been an odd 12 months for the attacker, defying the trajectory that seemed the most logical.Coutinho has gone from exceeding expectations in his first six months in Catalonia where it would have been natural for him to struggle to adapt to the rhythm of a new club and competition, mid-season to gradually losing importance in the squad dynamic, and not finding his form in his second term.On Sunday, El Mundo labelled it Coutinhos endless fall (Spaniards do have something of a penchant for the dramatic).5

Many expected the departures of Luis Suarez and then Coutinho to Barcelona to send Liverpool backwards

In a more balanced look in AS, Santi Gimnez pondered over how the Coutinho effect had now dried up, pointing to the eight goals and five assists the No 7 produced across 18 league games in his first half a season.If he could produce that after coming half-way through the season, it wasnt crazy to expect a step forward this season, and for the player to cement himself as a star, he observed.Rather than him being particularly bad this season, Coutinhos problem is perhaps more that in his first five months with Barca he was abnormally good, thus exceeding expectations5

However, the Reds have emerged as serious title challengers without the pair

It is difficult to recall a game this term where he has been notably poor.There hasnt been any disappearing and lack of showing for the ball, or confusion with the system that normally marks a player out as clearly not Barcelona material.The most obvious, concrete issue is that his impact in front of goal the attribute he stood out for above any other after signing last year has dried up dramatically.Since scoring and producing in a generally excellent all-round performance as Barca thrashed arch rivals Real Madrid 5-1 in October, the 26-year-old has failed to find the net again.Its a shift thats particularly striking; considering he had scored five times in just over two months up to that point.

---

MORE: COUTINHO AND SUAREZ STAR AS BARCELONA THRASH REAL MADRID AT NOU CAMP

---

5

Coutinho’s sudden dip in form came following his exceptional performance in the El Clasico in October

The biggest beneficiary of his sudden lack of cutting edge has been Ousmane Dembl, who, whether he turns up for training or not, just cant stop scoring big goals at key moments.With coach Erneste Valverde treating Coutinho as more of a forward than a midfielder, there isnt room for the two players in a 4-3-3 system, and Dembl is now the clear first choice. On merit.Ironically, Coutinho can probably thank Dembls off-pitch issues for ensuring that his own struggles have not been more of a story until now. With the headlines and sporting pages at the tail end of 2018 adequately filled with the Frenchmans baffling tardiness, the 142m signing hitting a dry patch didnt really even register until the anniversary of his arrival drew close on the horizon.Its a story now, though, and the fact Valverde didnt think Coutinho would be worth a start against notoriously disciplined Getafe, where his shooting from distance could have been an obvious tool to exploit, seems significant.

PHILLIPPE COUTINHO'S BARCELONA RECORD

La Liga2018-19: 4 goals and 1 assist in 15 appearances2017-18: 8 goals and 5 assists in 18 appearancesChampions League2018-19:1 goals in 6 matches5

The Frenchman 21, joined in August 2017 and has been directly involved in 15 goals in 23 appearances this season

Significant too is that Barca got the job done without him.The Catalans were 2-1 up by the time the former Liverpool man finally entered the field of play with less than 10 minutes remaining.Coutinho was supposed to be much more than an extremely expensive substitute who merely sees out games.Not since his last move to the city of Barcelona, when Inter shipped him out on loan to Espanyol as a youngster, has the Brazilian been asked to prove his worth to the extent he is being asked now.The good news for him is that with the Copa del Rey and Champions League resuming shortly, he will have the opportunities.In the ruthless world of Barcelona you have to take them quickly though – before things move on without you.

---

Dec 08, 2018 · T hat's that then. Liverpool go back to the top of the Premier League, for a few hours at least, one point clear of City, who play at Chelsea at 5.30pm. Mohamed Salah was the star of the show here
Preview: Leicester City vs. Liverpool - prediction, team news

---

Martin Glenn will leave his role as chief executive of the Football Association at the end of the season, the governing body has announced. Glenn, who joined the FA in May 2015, says he will leave
Martin Glenn resigns as Football Association chief executive

---

Liverpool fans say the same thing about Man Utd flop Memphis Depay during England clash "Liverpool please sign Memphis, this man is s****. Liverpool Transfer news Manchester United Football.
Liverpool transfer news: Reds consider signing Man United
hollywoodadviser.com/liverpool-transfer-news-reds-consider-signing-man-united-flop-memphis-depay-as-sadio-mane-replacement/
And reports in the French media suggest Liverpool are keeping an eye on the former PSV forward ahead of a potential summer swoop. Liverpool allegedly see Depay as a potential replacement for Sadio Mane, who has been linked with big-money moves to some of Europe's biggest clubs amid a remarkable season with the Reds.
LIVE Memphis Depay Manchester News | One News Page

---

Tony Cascarino felt Mauricio Pochettino got his decisions wrong for the Champions League final and 'managed like a rookie manager'. Tottenham were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on Saturday.
Tony Cascarino: Mauricio Pochettino managed Tottenham like a

---

Unai Emery is doing a "really good job" at Arsenal but must be given "two or three transfer windows" to build his own team, according to Sol Campbell. Campbell, who took his first
Sol Campbell explains why Arsenal legend Sylvain Wiltord

---

Mauricio Pochettino EXCLUSIVE: Tottenham Hotspur boss admits his players were tired after defeat to Wolves at Wembley Goals from Willy Boly, Raul Jiminez and Helder Costa secured a famous comeback
Mauricio Pochettino EXCLUSIVE: Tottenham Hotspur boss admits

---

Tottenham's Danny Rose admits sharing England camp with Liverpool players 'draining' after Champions League loss Posted on June 10, 2019 10:18 The Spurs full-back says it has been difficult to spend time around the European Cup winning Reds

---

Borussia Dortmund's £16m-rated forward Adrian Ramos is set to snub Crystal Palace and West Brom. Sergio Ramos is reportedly 'very close' to signing a new contract with Real Madrid ‒ a move which would kill Louis van Gaal's attempts to lure the defender to Manchester United this summer.

---

World No1 struggles to see off fellow German Carina Witthöft 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2 Venus Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova also into third round on day two One slightly pained smile
Vivero Imperial - Sicomoro Mexicano

---

08 1996, The Times, #65548, UK (en)_djvu.txt
Search the history of over 357 billion web pages on the Internet.
Is Liverpool FC privately owned - answers.com

---

Bayern Munich 1-3 Liverpool (agg 1-3): Sadio Mane & Virgil van Dijk goals see off German champions Two goals from Sadio Mane helped Liverpool beat Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena and reach
Bayern Munich vs Liverpool: Sadio Mane double helps Liverpool

---

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino tell the unseen stories behind the Champions League semi-finals. Champions League final: Liverpool's Klopp & Tottenham
UEFA Champions League final preview: Tottenham v. Liverpool

---

Lionel Messi's mesmerising run and goal against Getafe is the best in Barcelona's history, according to fans. The strike in the semi-finals of the 2006/07 Copa del Rey, which Getafe actually won, achieved 45 per cent of the vote in a competition in which more than 500,000 supporters have voted since December.
Lionel Messi goal vs Getafe is best in Barcelona's history
hollywoodadviser.com/lionel-messi-goal-vs-getafe-is-best-in-barcelonas-history-according-to-fans/
Lionel Messi's mesmerising run and goal against Getafe is the best in Barcelona's history, according to fans. The strike in the semi-finals of the 2006/07 Copa del Rey, which Getafe actually won, achieved 45 per cent of the vote in a competition in which more than 500,000 supporters have voted since December.
Lionel Messi goal vs Getafe is best in Barcelona's history

---

Keep up to date with the latest Tottenham Hotspur news, features and exclusives from football.london via our free WhatsApp service. Text NEWS to 07776197989 and then add the number to your phone contacts book as spurs dot london (case sensitive, with spaces) to receive daily updates and breaking news from Alasdair Gold and the team on Spurs.

---

West Ham United News; Transfer news, rumours LIVE: Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool latest football gossip. 04 June 2019 05:31 Welcome to the Evening Standard's LIVE blog dedicated
Transfer news, rumours LIVE: Man Utd identify Pogba

---