Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers believes that attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho’s dexterity on the ball is a result of the Brazilian’s time playing futsal as a youngster in his home country, saying his game has changed little from when it was viewed on YouTube.

Coutinho has become an important member of Rodgers’ starting eleven since his arrival from Inter Milan in January 2013. In the current league campaign he has scored four goals and assisted the same number to help Liverpool stay in the hunt for a spot in the Champions League.




After a stuttering start to the season that threatened to derail Liverpool’s league campaign after finishing second behind Manchester City last term, the Reds have hit a purple patch having gone undefeated in their last 11 games, a run that extends to December last year.

Coutinho has been instrumental in the upturn in the Merseyside giants’ fortunes; as a result he has won Liverpool’s Player of the Month award every month since December.
 


A threat for their opponents due to his sublime playmaking skills, the 22-year-old has scored two stupendous goals in Liverpool’s last two Premier League outings against Southampton and Manchester City to help the Reds collect all three points.

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Rodgers is effusive in the praise of his number 10 and the Northern Irishman feels that Coutinho “offers gold dust” to his team.

"What he gives to the team, he offers that gold dust to how we play”, the manager told the club site.

“He's a wonderful player.”

Most Brazilians kids start their football education by playing futsal in their childhood and Rodgers feels that the skills Coutinho acquired while playing the indoor game have held him in good stead at the highest level.

“If you see his videos on YouTube, playing futsal when he was 11 or 12 in Brazil, he's playing the same game now only as an adult.

“We knew he had ability, it was just about trusting that ability and allowing it to grow.”

Rodgers added that for all his trickery on the ball, the Brazilian is not wasteful in possession and his skills are perfectly suited to Liverpool’s game.

“He has a beautiful arrogance on the ball, his touch is magical but he's effective and efficient with it and playing here at Liverpool, with the dynamics of how we want to work, is perfect for him.”

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