The in-form Liverpool star scored a sensational goal to seal a 2-1 victory over Man City and his team-mate says he has taken his performances to “the next level”
Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen is impressed by the way in which team-mate Philippe Coutinho has reached “the next level” and has tipped the in-form star to make a big impact with Brazil’s national team.
The former Inter player put in a stellar performance against Manchester City at Anfield, scoring a sensational winner to seal a 2-1 victory, continuing his excellent run of performances since the turn of the year.
Coutinho also netted the winner in the corresponding fixture last season and his latest strike added to further recent wonder-goals against Bolton and Southampton.
The 22-year-old, who has five caps, was included in Dunga’s Brazil squad for the recent games against Austria and Turkey, but is yet to start a match under the new national coach. He was not selected for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s World Cup squad on home soil last summer
“He is so good,” an admiring Allen told the Liverpool Echo. “The Brazilian team is obviously full of talent but he has to be really pushing for that. With his performances recently, Philippe has taken things to the next level.
“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.
“He’s skilful and very versatile. He can play in different positions and teams are struggling to deal with him.
“Why has he started scoring? I think it is confidence. That’s a huge thing in football. The ability has always been there and technically he is right up there.
“I think some people forget how young he is at times. He is a young player getting better all the time.
“He is showing that goals are part of his game. He was always on this path. Those of us who work with him on a daily basis, we always knew he was going to kick on and reach this kind of level.”