Philippe Coutinho

The Liverpool star was a surprise omission from the Brazil squad that will meet Costa Rica and USA in September

Brazil coach Dunga says his side will benefit from added experience after including Kaka in his squad in place of Philippe Coutinho.

Coutinho has been an ever-present in the Brazil squad since Dunga’s July 2014 appointment, but was a surprise omission from the squad to take on Costa Rica and USA in September.

And Dunga says Orlando City man Kaka can be a major influence on the younger members of the squad.

“We gave Coutinho a chance at the Copa America,” Dunga told a press conference on Thursday.

“You cannot just build a team with youngsters, you also need experience to help them.”

Countinho has failed to break into Dunga’s first team, having to play second fiddle to Willian, Oscar and captain Neymar.

Barcelona star Neymar was named on standby as the 24th member of the squad with suspension ruling him out of Brazil’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Venezuela in October.

His absence led to speculation that Coutinho could be given a rare starting role in the first team following his fine form for Liverpool.

But Dunga is instead hoping that Kaka will have major influence next month.

“Kaka will be a reference, just as Robinho was before,” added Dunga. 

“Kaka can give the team experience and maturity during difficult times and he will work hard both and off the field.”

Robinho, who was singled out as one of Brazil’s best performers at this year’s Copa America, also failed to make the squad following his recent move to Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande.

With the 23-year-old impressing once again with a moment on magic against Stoke City, the fellow Brazilian has backed his compatriot to step up in 35-year-old’s absence

Kaka has urged Liverpool to build a team around Philippe Coutinho following the departure of long-serving captain Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard ended his 17-year association with the Anfield outfit at the end of last season to join LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer, where Kaka also plies his trade for Orlando City.

And, after Coutinho scored the winner in Liverpool’s Premier League opener at Stoke City on Sunday, 89-time Brazil international Kaka predicts a bright future at both club and international level for the 23-year-old.

“I have been a big admirer of Coutinho and he can be a very important player for Liverpool and Brazil,” he told reporters.

“There will be a lot of expectation on him with Liverpool fighting to get back into the Champions League, but I know that he can handle it.

“One great player doesn’t make a team, but you can build a team around one great player, and I believe he can be that player.

“Coutinho is a humble guy. He won’t talk about being able to replace a legend like Steven Gerrard, and the truth is nobody could ever replace him, but with Gerrard gone they do need somebody to step up – and he can do that.”

Following a narrow victory over Stoke City, which was decided by Philippe Coutinho’s late long-range winner, the summer signing is not concerned about entertainment

Liverpool midfielder James Milner is happy for his team to continue winning ugly after an unconvincing start to the season.

Brendan Rodgers’s men needed a stunning 86th-minute long-range strike from Philippe Coutinho to start their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win at Stoke City on Sunday.

It was far from their most fluent display, but summer signing Milner said being able to leave the Britannia Stadium with three points was all that mattered despite a lacklustre display from most involved.

“It is always about the results. If we played rubbish every game of the season and won every one of them then everybody would be happy with that,” he said.

“Ultimately it is about getting that win whether it is a game where we can move the ball about or whether it is a game where it is a battle and we have to grind it out.

“You have to assess the situation and be able to adapt to those games and play in all these different formations and against different sides.

“A top team can adapt and win the games when things maybe aren’t playing to your strengths.”

Milner, who was on the wrong end of one of Coutinho’s long-range strikes when Manchester City lost 2-1 at Anfield in March, was full of praise for the Brazilian following another memorable winner.

“I think he is going to keep improving all the time. I saw him do that a few times last year, so it was nice to have him do that while I was on the field and on his side,” Milner said.

“He has got that quality and we know we have quality all over the field.”

The Reds left it late to seal all three points, as a stunning strike from the midfielder with five minutes remaining was enough to earn the visitors a win

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was pleased to see his side avenge last season’s 6-1 defeat against Stoke, and reserved praise for matchwinner Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian struck on 86 minutes after at the end of a closely fought contest to hand his side a 1-0 win at the Britannia Stadium, during which there were few goalscoring opportunities at either end.

After the game, Rodgers said: “It’s always difficult coming to Stoke. Defensively we were strong and we always know we have the quality to win a game.

“It was embarrassing [the 6-1 loss in May] but today you’ve seen the determination and the quality. It was definitely one for [the fans]. They’ll be proud of the team tonight.

“How close was I to taking Coutinho off? Very! I can’t profess to be a genius! Danny Ings was going to come on but I’m obviously happy he scored and stayed on.

“Coutinho is already is a star. He’s only been back three weeks training so he’s not even at his peak.”

Liverpool now look ahead to the visit of newly promoted Bournemouth to Anfield on August 17.

The Anfield star believes his countryman’s talent and eye for goal will make him a real asset on Merseyside as Brendan Rodgers hopes to get his squad back into the top four

Philippe Coutinho believes Brazil team-mate Roberto Firmino will be a a big success alongside him at Liverpool next season.

Firmino completed a move to Anfield in a deal rising to £28 million on Wednesday after an impressive season with Hoffenheim that saw him notch seven goals and 10 assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances.

And Coutinho – who is currently playing alongside Firmino for Brazil at the Copa America – is confident his countryman will light up the Premier League.

“I think it is great news,” he told Liverpool’s official website. “Firmino is a great player and obviously I know him from the Brazilian national team. He is a great character and person.

“He is strong physically, he is fast, agile, very skilful on the ball and he scores a lot of goals – he is a great forward. I am sure he will be of great help to us next season.

“After hearing the news, I said to him ‘welcome to Liverpool’ and I have told him that he will be coming into a club that is like a family – I made sure to tell him that. I have also wished him a great and very successful first season at Liverpool.

“I’m very much looking forward to playing and starting the new season alongside Firmino at Liverpool. I am looking forward to not only playing for Liverpool again, but trying to help us get into a position to win trophies.

“As I said, I am very happy he has signed for Liverpool – but not only him, all of the other signings we’ve made recently as well. I’m sure all of these new players are coming in to make our team even stronger for the new season.

“I can’t wait to start the Premier League season. I am very hopeful things will go well for us on the pitch this season.”

The World Cup winner says it is a “big achievement” for the Reds to have brought the pair together, believing the duo can lead the Anfield outfit back into the Champions League

Ronaldinho believes Philippe Coutinho and new signing Roberto Firmino give Liverpool “one of the most exciting midfields in Europe”.

The Brazil international, who is currently at the Copa America with his new domestic team-mate, was confirmed as Brendan Rodgers’s fifth summer signing for a deal worth up to £28 million (€41m) on Wednesday.

Firmino scored 10 goals and provided a further 12 assists for Hoffenheim last season, with Coutinho boasting nine and five respectively, and Ronaldinho feels the 23-year-old’s arrival is a “sign of intent” by Liverpool.

“For Liverpool to have Coutinho and Firmino is a big achievement for them,” Ronaldinho is quoted as saying by The Mirror. “It is going to give them one of the most exciting midfields in Europe.

“The creativity, intelligence and goals they have between them can change Liverpool as a team. It is a big sign of intent. Those two in midfield gives them a big chance to qualify for the Champions League next season.

“It is a dream for the Liverpool strikers to have that sort of service. If you can’t score goals in a team with Coutinho and Firmino in midfield then you won’t score goals in any team. They will create so many chances.”

Rodgers has wasted no time in strengthening his squad following last season’s disappointing fifth-placed finish and Steven Gerrard’s exit, also adding James Milner, Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan and Joe Gomez to his ranks.

For the second time in 12 months, Dunga’s men face a crucial test at a major tournament without their star man, who has been suspended

Brazil face a crunch Copa America clash in Sunday’s Group C meeting with Venezuela, and they do so without star forward Neymar.

The Barcelona man has been handed a four-match suspension following his red card at the end of Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat to Colombia.

After the final whistle had been blown, Neymar appeared to kick the ball in the direction of Pablo Armero before attempting to headbutt Jeison Murillo.

It is the second time in 12 months that Brazil head into a crucial fixture at a major tournament without their talisman.

At the World Cup on home soil last year, Neymar suffered a back injury in the quarter-final win over Colombia, and was ruled out of the last-four clash with Germany, where the hosts suffered a humiliating 7-1 thrashing.

​The ban rules him out of the rest of the Copa, even if Brazil make the final, but first Dunga’s men must focus on qualifying from their group.

Wednesday’s defeat, coupled with Venezuela’s 1-0 loss to Peru, means all four sides are tied on three points heading into the final round of action.

Philippe Coutinho, fresh from stunning individual displays for Liverpool this season, is being tipped to replace Neymar in the starting line-up, and the diminutive playmaker insists he is up to the task.

“I’m ready. Neymar is our main player, but I’m ready to play,” he said.

Meanwhile, Venezuela have their own suspension to contend with after defender Fernando Amorebieta was sent off for stamping on Peru’s Paulo Guerrero.

Amorebieta – likely to be replaced by Gabriel Cichero – took the blame for the defeat afterwards, and head coach Noel Sanvicente says his players are happy to come into Sunday’s meeting in Santiago as underdogs.

“We knew that this group was quite difficult, but we must move fast from the defeat because it is Brazil,” he said.

“We’re going with a defeat, but we have the match against a favourite and that motivates us.

“We know what Brazil are, and without Neymar, we have the team to win.”

The last two meetings between these sides have ended goalless, with their most recent clash coming in the group stage of this tournament four years ago.

Venezuela went on to finish fourth in 2011, while Brazil’s challenge ended at the quarter-final stage – a disappointing conclusion after winning four of the five editions prior to that.

The Liverpool man thinks that the Selecao can still advance to the quarter-finals despite having their captain suspended for their final group outing

Philippe Coutinho believes that Brazil can reach the knockout stages of Copa America 2015 even though Neymar will miss their final Group C fixture against Venezuela due to suspension.

The Selecao captain was shown a red card late on in their 1-0 defeat to Colombia on Wednesday – ending a run of 11 straight victories – and has provisionally been banned for one game.

Coutinho missed that match after picking up a thigh injury in the friendly win over Honduras before the competition in Chile began.

Yet despite the absence of their talisman for their next outing, the Liverpool forward believes that the Brazil team will unite to overcome the loss – though he is unsure whether he will be the man to replace him.

“Neymar is a great player, our main man, but everyone is prepared and focused on what we want,” Coutinho said in a press conference.

“We lost our main player, but the group is strong. We are focused to overcome the loss of Neymar in the next game.

“I do not know if I’m going to play. I believe that everyone is prepared.”It depends on the coach. I am prepared and I will do my best to help the team come away with the victory. We have great players in the Selecao – creative, fast and smart.

“The most important thing is the team. Whoever plays has to get the job done.”

Fernandinho admitted that losing Neymar to a back injury at World Cup 2014 was different to it happening on this occasion, but backed Coutinho to be a capable deputy.

“This time it is different [to the World Cup]. That time it was due to injury, it hurt everyone. Now it’s different, it’s a suspension from a card. But I am particularly calm,” he told reporters.

“In the case that Coutinho replaces him, he is ready. He is one of the best players of Liverpool and has done well for the Seleção. We will be represented well.

“With or without Neymar we try to play fast football, attacking down the wings.”Some think we play for Neymar, but our intention is to involve all of the attack in the game.”

Brazil take on La Vinotinto in their final Group C fixture on Sunday with all four teams in the pool joined on four points.

Coutinho feels they will still make the latter stages of what he considers to be one of the toughest editions of the Copa America.

“The information we have is that they are a team that plays tactically strong. But in the coming days we will watch videos and talk about the opponent,” he added.

“We had a good sequence of victories before the Copa América. It’s a complicated competition but we are in shape to advance from this phase.

“Nowadays football doesn’t have any easy teams. Every game is difficult and teams come prepared. [This is] one of the most difficult Copa Americas.”

The Liverpool man capped just his second start for his country with a fine solo strike in Brazil’s victory over Mexico and is ready to star in Chile

Philippe Coutinho has set his sights on helping Brazil to Copa America glory this month, regardless of whether he plays.

The Liverpool attacker has had to settle for a cameo role under coach Dunga, but made his claim for a starting berth on Sunday as he hit Brazil’s opener in their 2-0 victory over Mexico.

With Chlesea’s Oscar absent this month due to injury, Coutinho is now favourite to break into the first team in Chile but insists the entire squad will have a part to play.

“It is a great opportunity not only for me, but for the whole group,” Coutinho said. 

“The Copa America is a great competition. We are focused, no matter who plays. Our only concern is to get there in good form and win the tournament.

“Everyone is fighting for a place, which is very important. We are always seeking the best.”

Coutinho opened the scoring with a fine solo effort in Sao Paulo, before Diego Tardelli rounded off victory in Brazil’s first match on home soil since last year’s World Cup.

“I am very happy with my goal,” Coutinho continued.  

“When I received the ball, I saw the defender coming and just turned, without even touching the ball. Once at the byline, I imagined that the goalkeeper would dive so I tried the shot.”

The 22-year-old is now hoping to retain his place in the side for Wednesday’s Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour friendly with Honduras, which will be the Selecao’s final warm-up match before heading to Chile.

The Manchester United winger came out on top against Philippe Coutinho’s strike against Southampton in the final round of voting on the Premier League’s official Twitter page

Angel Di Maria’s scooped lob in Manchester United’s 5-3 defeat to Leicester City has been voted as the Premier League’s best goal of the season.

The Argentine’s effort topped the poll ahead of Philippe Coutinho’s strike against Southampton in the final round of voting on the Premier League’s official Twitter page.

To get to the final, Di Maria’s goal won the vote ahead of Jermain Defoe’s strike against Newcastle United and Charlie Adam’s effort inside his own half against Chelsea.

GOAL CUP And the 2014/15 Goal Cup winner is… pic.twitter.com/CUQ3G6yGOQ

— Premier League (@premierleague) June 5, 2015

Di Maria struggled in his debut season at United after joining from Real Madrid for a British record fee of €75 million last summer but has insisted that he intends to stay at Old Trafford this summer.

“I have just finished my first season playing for Manchester United,” he told The Sun.

“It was a hard season for me. I think it was hard because it was another country and another league, and this league is harder than the Spanish one. So, I couldn’t adapt myself as I wanted to.

“Now I will play the Copa America and then I will move back to Manchester for next season and do my best there.”

A huge THANK YOU to the thousands who voted in the 2014/15 Goal Cup – take one more look at #GoalCupDiMaria… https://t.co/FYz1lriH4E

— Premier League (@premierleague) June 5, 2015

Di Maria is currently training with the Argentina national side ahead of the Copa America this summer, with Gerardo Martino’s men to face Bolivia in a warm-up game on Saturday.