Monday 24 August 2015 15:19, UK
The departures of Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling have left Philippe Coutinho with big boots to fill, writes Nick Wright...
When Steven Gerrard took to the stage to collect his outstanding achievement gong at Liverpool's awards night last season, the hushed audience were expecting a rousing farewell speech from their departing captain. What they got was rather different.
"People keep trying to get me to cry before I leave, I've had to do that many speeches," he said. "But I'm bored of speaking about myself, I want to pay tribute to Philippe. I'm privileged to share a dressing room with him. He's the next big thing for me."
Coutinho had just collected a clean sweep of awards following his best season yet in a Liverpool shirt. Gerrard's fulsome praise showed just how highly he is regarded by his team-mates, but the Brazilian is a quiet, unassuming character, and it is only now that he finds himself in the spotlight.
"Since Luis Suarez left, and now with Gerrard gone, there's a massive gap in the side to be filled by a star and Philippe could be the player to fill the role," said Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson last week.
Liverpool had hoped Raheem Sterling would be their next Kop icon, but by the time of last season's awards night, it was already clear his future lay elsewhere. His acrimonious move to Manchester City has thrust Coutinho further into the limelight.
It is easy to understand Thompson's - and Liverpool's - faith in Coutinho. The 23-year-old has emerged as one of the Premier League's finest attackers since his arrival from Inter Milan in January 2013, and last season he shone brightly in an otherwise gloomy campaign. "He joined us for £8.5million," said Rodgers in March. "It's frightening to know what he could be worth now."
Stunning long-range goals against Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City and Southampton were individual highlights on his way to a PFA Player of the Year nomination, and the stats emphasise just how important he was to Liverpool. Coutinho made more passes in the final third (850), completed more dribbles (109) and had more shots (64) than any other player at the club in 2014/15.
Five goals and five assists is a relatively low count for a player of his quality, but Coutinho has the flair and intelligence to produce moments of magic that make the difference - and he works tirelessly too. "He can conjure things like that out of nowhere and win the match," said Thompson. "Other players are looking at him now as a bit of a leader and can give him the ball in the final third and know he can create something."
It is a valuable skill, and Coutinho showed as much with another trademark stunner on the first day of the new campaign against Stoke City. The game looked to be meandering to a goalless draw at the Britannia Stadium, but Liverpool's No 10 banished the memory of that traumatic 6-1 defeat with a devastating swing of his right boot.
Afterwards, Brendan Rodgers was asked if Coutinho is on his way to becoming a major Premier League star. "I think he already is," he replied. "He has shown that with his quality. It was a great turn to get away from the midfield player and a wonderful shot."
With Suarez, Gerrard and Sterling gone, Coutinho is the bridge between this season and Liverpool's unlikely title charge in 2013/14. He is already treasured by his manager and team-mates, but they need even more from him now, and he faces his first major test as Liverpool's new talisman when they face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Monday Night Football.
"The next step for Philippe Coutinho is to put in a few performances away from home against the really big teams," said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher in the build-up to Monday's game.
If Liverpool are going to get a result on Monday they really need Philippe Coutinho to perform.
"I think he's good at home especially the last couple of years against Man City. You think of the wonder goals he's scored in those games, he scored against Arsenal at home last season as well, but I think the next step for Coutinho is to start really producing in really big away games."
Since his arrival at Liverpool, Coutinho has only scored four goals and claimed one assist in 17 appearances against Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester. By contrast, Sterling scored three times against the same opposition in the 2013/14 campaign alone. Liverpool need that kind of contribution from Coutinho this season - and Monday would be a good time to start.
"He's Liverpool's best player at the moment and if you want to do well in the big games away from home, you need your best players to perform," said Carragher. "If Liverpool are going to get a result on Monday, they really need Philippe Coutinho to perform."
Liverpool's 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on their last visit to the Emirates in April was a low-point in their season. Coutinho struggled to exert his influence that day, but Rodgers and his new-look Liverpool will be hoping he fares rather better this time around.
The expectation weighs heavily on his young shoulders, but he has taken it all in his stride so far, and he looks ready to embrace the challenge. Monday's game is an opportunity for Liverpool's "next big thing" to set a precedent.
Watch Arsenal v Liverpool live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm on Monday
