‘Liverpool’s perfect 10’ is now good enough for Real – Carragher

Joe Williams

Philippe Coutinho: Staying at Liverpool until 2022

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher thinks Philippe Coutinho has improved so much that he now deems him good enough to play for Real Madrid.

Like Liverpool, Coutinho has started the new Premier League season in good form, helping the Reds to third place in the Premier League table, level on points with Manchester City and Arsenal before this weekend’s round of fixtures.

The Brazilian has been the driving force behind a lot of Liverpool’s superb play and has forced his way into Tite’s plans for his country’s national team.

Carragher admits that Coutinho used to make him lose his patience but now reckons he has the ability to play for any of Liverpool’s rivals.

“Coutinho has become one of the stars of the Premier League, the driving force behind Liverpool’s impressive early form and the key to them sustaining what could yet become a challenge for the title,” says Carragher in his Daily Mail column .

“He is playing at such a level that you could put him in the No 10 position of any of Liverpool’s rivals — Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United — and he would fit in seamlessly and enhance their quality.

“There used to be a time when I would roll my eyes. Philippe Coutinho’s name would be mentioned alongside a team such as Real Madrid but I never took it seriously. I’m not rolling my eyes any longer.”

In terms of importance to Jurgen Klopp’s side, Carragher has compared the 24-year-old to Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez from years gone by and thinks the midfielder has become just as key.

“Gerrard and Suarez have gone and Coutinho is now the man,” added Carragher. “He is becoming Liverpool’s perfect 10.”