Scout Reports

Scout Report – Philippe Coutinho

Brendan Rodgers will be hoping his second, and final, signing of the January transfer can have as much impact as the first. While Daniel Sturridge has slotted in seamlessly as the central striker and is already banging in the goals, Philippe Coutinho is yet to feature for the Reds following his arrival from Serie A club Inter.

The 20-year-old signed on a long-term contract Anfield for a fee in the region of £8.5m and has already been the subject of plenty praise from his new manager. After beating off a late challenge from Southampton for the young Brazilian, Rodgers explained just why he splashed the cash:

“He’s a wonderful talent and a great technician, he’s got pace, strength, power. Again, I think he’s flexible. He can play in the midfield in that zone, or he can play off the sides. He’s a very exciting young player – his profile fits into the model of our work here. For a young player of 20, he’s actually got a lot of experience. He’s played 100-odd games and at the very highest level. He’s fantastic in the one v one, he’s great at taking players on, works hard and he’s got a goal in him…He can come in straight away because he’s got the game.”

The Statistics

A product of the Vasco da Gama youth system, Coutinho was purchased by Serie A outfit Inter as a 16-year-old. He stayed in his native country for another two years, however, producing a goal and a pair of assists from 19 first-team appearances before making his way to Italy. Arriving at the San Siro in the summer of 2010, the youngster was heralded as “the future of Inter” but was handed just 12 starts in a season-and-a-half, producing two goals and a pair of assists before making his way on loan to Spanish side Espanyol.

Coutinho’s time in La Liga was more successful. Playing under the current Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino, he grabbed five goals and an assist from a total of 16 appearances last term before returning to Inter. Once again, his game time was somewhat curtailed at the Italian club – Coutinho featured 10 times in the league this season, scoring once, with only three appearances arriving via the starting XI. He has turned out for the Brazil U17 and U20 sides on a total of 15 occasions, scoring six times, and has also featured for the senior side once, back in 2010 in a friendly against Iran.

The Prospects

It’s fair to say that, so far, Rodgers’ acquisition policy has been a bit hit and miss for Liverpool. Joe Allen started well but has drifted out the first-team in recent weeks, Fabio Borini has failed to make an impact upon his recent return from injury, while Oussama Assaidi has played a grand total of 57 minutes in the Premier League since joining the club last summer.

After a few months in charge on Merseyside, Rodgers now has a better idea of what’s required within the first-team set-up, though. Sturridge’s arrival has already afforded more leeway up front, with a 4-2-3-1 formation offering an alternative to a 4-3-3. It may well be that Coutinho could find a place on the left of the former formation, with Suarez tucked in behind Sturridge in a central berth and Raheem Sterling on the right – affording Liverpool pace and trickery aplenty up top, with perhaps current regular Stewart Downing eased out the picture.

The new boy has had a handful of niggling muscle injuries over the past couple of seasons, however, and was resultantly ruled out of Sunday’s game at City – frustrating for Fantasy managers, given the imminent double. Short-term, then, it may well be that he’s gradually introduced to the first-team fold as Rodgers affords him the time to become accustomed to the demands of the Premier League. Once fully fit, though, Coutinho looks likely to offer Fantasy managers a real mid-price option at 6.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) but with the likes of Robert Snodgrass, Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sissoko and Adel Taarabt available in a similar bracket, the vast majority will be happy to assess the situation from afar until the Brazilian begins to realise his undoubted potential.

Further Reference

Philippe Coutinho Wikipedia
Philippe Coutinho Statistics
Philippe Coutinho YouTube

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1,425 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DLL18
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Wally down.

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    1. DLL18
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      ...and up.

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      1. DLL18
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        ...and down again, kids like a yo-yo.

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  2. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Walcott -PPI! 😉

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  3. Chris_Fàbregas #DOOS…
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    WOOOOONEY.

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  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    OMG Rooney

    Walcott down injured

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    1. crystalpalaceRus
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      hes not down you bellend

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      1. Chris_Fàbregas #DOOS…
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        He is down, no need for that language either.

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      2. Jonny
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        he is actually.

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        1. crystalpalaceRus
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 1 month ago

          he wasnt initially, even just made a run and went down after now back up again

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          1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 1 month ago

            He got injured in the goal

            Admit you were wrong.

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            1. crystalpalaceRus
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 1 month ago

              I ain wrong you said hes down injured..was just a knock and as i wrote it he was running on the ball!

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      3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        What???????? U stupid clown

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        1. crystalpalaceRus
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 1 month ago

          everyone knows you exaggerate everything

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          1. Jonny
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 1 month ago

            you are exagerating. LOL

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  5. crystalpalaceRus
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    rooney is the inform man

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  6. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Great pass for Theo and well played for following it forward

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  7. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Walcott please don't be injured..I was going to save my FT this gameweek...

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  8. heeljames
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Roonpig.com

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  9. Lateriser 12
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    I hope Forca inter say that pass.

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    1. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      if you meant that "say" that was funny

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  10. Granville
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Thanks Wazza, £70 richer.

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    1. TeamSteam
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      First time or any time?

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      1. Granville
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        first

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        1. Granville
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Backed 1-1 as well.

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        2. TeamSteam
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Suppose you were quite pleased with the shaite `Dinho penalty then 😉

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    2. Jonny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      sweet.

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    3. Back on the horse
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      what you gonna spend it on?

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      1. Granville
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Hookers and drugs.

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        1. In Like Flynn.
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 1 month ago

          I suppose you'll waste the rest?

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          1. Granville
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 1 month ago

            😆

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        2. Back on the horse
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 1 month ago

          not a new pair of Clarks for your poor child? or a sticker book? or the next level of jigsaw?

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          1. In Like Flynn.
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 1 month ago

            Compromise. A jigsaw with hookers on it.

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  11. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    amazing goal from aguero! beautiful chip.

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Lovely, I'm sorry we parted Sergio, I promise it's only a temporary measure

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  12. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    What's wrong with Walcott?

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    1. Mr. Greedy
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Punched in the stomach I think. Just winded probably.

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  13. lord leonard
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Wallys had it

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  14. Soccer Brah
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Jack Wilshire is ridiculous. Really great player.

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    1. TeamSteam
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Shhh. Forca might hear you.

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    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Outstanding.

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  15. The King
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Walcott injured. Walcott > Gerrard??

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    1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Great (or sick) minds!

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    2. lord leonard
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Could be a plan

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  16. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Walcott to Gerrard (-4)?

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    1. heeljames
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      calm that knee down

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      1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Just havin' fun.

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      2. Jonny
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        😉

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  17. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    All of a sudden I feel a disturbance in the force in these internationals games 😕

    The Granville Effect is beginning already 😕

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  18. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    The Theo to Gerrard tranny could be back on

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  19. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Theo Walcott injured

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  20. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Fellaini to start this weekend?

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  21. The King
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Theo looks okay now. Who knows.

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  22. Mulder
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Walcott > Britton

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  23. Back on the horse
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    England - Brazil

    I'm surprised this hasn't been a World Cup final match up m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶t̶e̶n̶ ever

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  24. onionbarje
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    He's up Walcott, hopefully they'll take him off as a precaution

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  25. Phaze 1
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Ugh please don't be hurt Walcott

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  26. TeamSteam
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Walcott`s fine. Relax.

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  27. heeljames
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Walcott is back on the pitch, good lord he was off for literally 5 seconds and in that time about 50 transfers have been made on here removing him. CHILL

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  28. I taught Ashley Young how t…
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Say what you want about Cleverley's finishing, but his work-rate is amazing

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  29. lord leonard
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    So much more energy in this england team

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  30. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Theo still looks like he's moving a bit gingerly to me

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    1. ★FC Borecelona★
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      He's fine

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