Augsburg centre-back Ragnar Klavan is reportedly having a medical at Liverpool ahead of a £4.2 million move this summer. 

That’s according to Sky Sports, which reported the defender is being drafted in to provide cover for Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip with Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez out injured.

Sky added the deal could be confirmed by Wednesday.

The 30-year-old has been capped 112 times by Estonia and made almost 300 appearances in the Eredivisie and Bundesliga.

An experienced campaigner, Klavan is a solid, safety-first defender who is good in the air and can also move the ball out from the back well.

He’s unlikely to unseat those in front of him in the pecking order, but he’s a useful player to be able to call upon if the need arises and gives the Reds more depth in defence.

Meanwhile, according to Chilean outlet AS (h/t the Daily Star‘s Jamie Styles), Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is interested in Gary Medel, whom Inter Milan are open to selling, and his team-mate Marcelo Brozovic.

The former is a combative enforcer who would add further protection for the back four. He’s also an accomplished passer of the ball, per WhoScored.com:

His presence could free up the side’s more creative talents to push forward with abandon. This is Anfield doubts the move will come to pass, however:

As for the latter, he is a box-to-box midfielder who will look to regain possession and push forward effectively.

Per WhoScored.com, Brozovic could leave those behind him exposed, however:

The 23-year-old is an excellent player in the making, but the Reds can ill afford to give their opponents free reign to roam forward in midfield.

If he were to sign for the Reds he’d need to be paired with a player who can cover the space behind him.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29R7YGx
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Augsburg centre-back Ragnar Klavan is reportedly having a medical at Liverpool ahead of a £4.2 million move this summer. 

That’s according to Sky Sports, which reported the defender is being drafted in to provide cover for Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip with Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez out injured.

Sky added the deal could be confirmed by Wednesday.

The 30-year-old has been capped 112 times by Estonia and made almost 300 appearances in the Eredivisie and Bundesliga.

An experienced campaigner, Klavan is a solid, safety-first defender who is good in the air and can also move the ball out from the back well.

He’s unlikely to unseat those in front of him in the pecking order, but he’s a useful player to be able to call upon if the need arises and gives the Reds more depth in defence.

Meanwhile, according to Chilean outlet AS (h/t the Daily Star‘s Jamie Styles), Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is interested in Gary Medel, whom Inter Milan are open to selling, and his team-mate Marcelo Brozovic.

The former is a combative enforcer who would add further protection for the back four. He’s also an accomplished passer of the ball, per WhoScored.com:

His presence could free up the side’s more creative talents to push forward with abandon. This is Anfield doubts the move will come to pass, however:

As for the latter, he is a box-to-box midfielder who will look to regain possession and push forward effectively.

Per WhoScored.com, Brozovic could leave those behind him exposed, however:

The 23-year-old is an excellent player in the making, but the Reds can ill afford to give their opponents free reign to roam forward in midfield.

If he were to sign for the Reds he’d need to be paired with a player who can cover the space behind him.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29R7YGx
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Augsburg centre-back Ragnar Klavan is reportedly having a medical at Liverpool ahead of a £4.2 million move this summer. 

That’s according to Sky Sports, which reported the defender is being drafted in to provide cover for Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip with Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez out injured.

Sky added the deal could be confirmed by Wednesday.

The 30-year-old has been capped 112 times by Estonia and made almost 300 appearances in the Eredivisie and Bundesliga.

An experienced campaigner, Klavan is a solid, safety-first defender who is good in the air and can also move the ball out from the back well.

He’s unlikely to unseat those in front of him in the pecking order, but he’s a useful player to be able to call upon if the need arises and gives the Reds more depth in defence.

Meanwhile, according to Chilean outlet AS (h/t the Daily Star‘s Jamie Styles), Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is interested in Gary Medel, whom Inter Milan are open to selling, and his team-mate Marcelo Brozovic.

The former is a combative enforcer who would add further protection for the back four. He’s also an accomplished passer of the ball, per WhoScored.com:

His presence could free up the side’s more creative talents to push forward with abandon. This is Anfield doubts the move will come to pass, however:

As for the latter, he is a box-to-box midfielder who will look to regain possession and push forward effectively.

Per WhoScored.com, Brozovic could leave those behind him exposed, however:

The 23-year-old is an excellent player in the making, but the Reds can ill afford to give their opponents free reign to roam forward in midfield.

If he were to sign for the Reds he’d need to be paired with a player who can cover the space behind him.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29R7YGx
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho made his first appearance of Liverpool‘s pre-season on Sunday afternoon, lining up alongside the likes of Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in the first half of the Reds’ 2-0 win away to Wigan Athletic and providing a salient reminder of his importance to Jurgen Klopp.

Over 45 minutes at the DW Stadium, Coutinho twisted, turned and surged through the Latics defence, testing goalkeeper Lee Nicholls whenever possible in a display that belied his lack of match fitness—he had spent close to a month out of action following Brazil’s exit from the Copa America Centenario.

The 24-year-old hit the woodwork twice and looked to have struck up a positive early understanding with summer signing Mane, as well as resuming his excellent combination play with his compatriot, Roberto Firmino.

It was a strong showing from the former Inter Milan midfielder, one that saw Goal’s Melissa Reddy hail him for his class and cutting edge:

Coutinho is in line to start Liverpool’s final domestic friendly away to Huddersfield Town on July 20 before taking up a key role for the Reds during their money-spinning tour of the United States, where he can test his abilities against Chelsea (July 27), AC Milan (July 30) and AS Roma (August 1).

He will be joined by the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Nathaniel Clyne, Divock Origi and Emre Can on the other side of the Atlantic as Klopp‘s summer internationals return to availability following their respective holidays.

But despite the plethora of big-name stars at Klopp‘s disposal this summer—and with another to come in Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who according to the Shields Gazette‘s Miles Starford is closing in on a move to Merseyside from Newcastle United—Coutinho remains the German’s key player.

“Our country has many brilliant players in Europe,” Brazilian legend Pele told LFCTV on the midfielder’s return to pre-season training. “There are other good young Brazilians in Europe at the moment, but they don’t have Philippe’s experience. He grew up in Europe, moving to Italy when he was just 17 or 18—so he’s a more experienced player already.”

As Pele’s praise attests, Coutinho‘s majesty is finally being recognised in his home country, with his performances underlining his blossoming talent, despite Brazil’s miserable Copa America campaign.

They included a hat-trick as Brazil thrashed Haiti 7-1 at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, leading then-manager Dunga to tell reporters, “That is what we wanted [from him].”

Throughout the Copa America, Coutinho was stationed on the left flank in Dunga‘s 4-2-3-1 formation, and it was in this role that he shined most regularly under Klopp in 2015/16. With Firmino‘s arrival in a deal worth £25 million last summer, the former Hoffenheim man was established as Liverpool’s first-choice No. 10.

The space provided by this wide role allows Coutinho to drive at defences, combine with rampaging left-backs and, perhaps most notably, cut inside onto his stronger right foot and unleash shots on goal—as he proved against Haiti.

In 2015/16, Coutinho enjoyed his most prolific campaign yet, scoring 12 goals and laying on seven assists in 43 games in all competitions, averaging a goal contribution every 169 minutes. For a player who has made a name for himself as the pass-before-the-assist creator, this is a strong level of output.

Only Daniel Sturridge scored more goals than Coutinho last season, while only three players—James Milner (14), Firmino (11) and Adam Lallana (eight)—made more assists.

His attacking exploits throughout 2015/16 saw him receive a clean sweep of awards at Liverpool’s end-of-season ceremony, with the club’s official website revealing that he had been named Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year, as well as receiving awards for Goal of the Year and Performance of the year.

That he was able to translate this form to the international stage—again, despite Brazil’s early exit from the Copa America—is a testament to Coutinho‘s progress as a young talent, and Klopp will be hoping he can continue this throughout pre-season and into the new campaign.

The German has made significant additions to his attacking line so far this summer, and the £30 million signing of Mane is set to be followed by the arrival of Wijnaldum from Tyneside, further adding to his options:

• Right Wing—Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Sheyi Ojo
• No. 10—Roberto Firmino, Georginio Wijnaldum
• Left Wing—Philippe Coutinho

The flexibility of Mane, Ojo and Wijnaldum in particular will give Klopp the ability to alter his forward line to suit the tactical demands of specific fixtures. He’ll likely revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation whenever possible, with three of his attacking midfielders in support of Sturridge, Origi or Danny Ings in attack.

However, assessing each attacking player’s natural position, Coutinho stands out as the only guaranteed starter, as Mane, Lallana, Ojo, Firmino and Wijnaldum are all more comfortable away from the left flank.

In 2015/16, 26 of Coutinho‘s 33 appearances under Klopp came on the left wing, as the former Borussia Dortmund manager was clearly set on his Brazilian maestro as first choice on that flank, while Firmino and Lallana were most regularly stationed in the centre and the right of his supporting unit, respectively.

Most impressively Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana shined in Liverpool’s 4-1 win away to Manchester City in November, and at the Etihad Stadium, the 24-year-old was at his most influential.

Coutinho scored one, assisted another, played more key passes than any other Liverpool player (three) and—showcasing an area of his game that has developed rapidly following Klopp‘s arrival—led the press with three successful tackles and one interception, a combined total higher than both Firmino and Lallana.

It was a performance that saw everything click for the Reds, and Coutinho was at the heart of it, with his exceptional talents meshing perfectly with Klopp‘s attacking system.

However, perhaps more indicative of Coutinho‘s importance to Klopp‘s Liverpool was his 65-minute display away to Aston Villa on Valentine’s Day, laying on assists for Sturridge and Origi on the way to a remarkable 6-0 victory at Villa Park. WhoScored.com labelled him its Man of the Match:

Against Villa, Coutinho provided the perfect example of his combination play alongside many of Klopp‘s key players.

The Brazilian’s quick feet and passing ability sees pacy strikers such as Sturridge and Origi thrive, his industry complements the hardworking Firmino and Lallana and his front-footed attacking style informs a strong understanding with Mamadou Sakho and Alberto Moreno as Klopp‘s left-sided defenders.

Slotting Coutinho into the lineup makes Klopp‘s Liverpool significantly more cohesive, and despite a makeover of his attacking ranks this summer, the German would be unwise to uproot his award-winning talent.

After enjoying his most impressive season yet on Merseyside and bringing that form into the Brazil squad this summer, Coutinho is poised to reinforce his importance to Liverpool throughout 2016/17.

If Klopp‘s side are to enjoy success this season, Coutinho will need to play a pivotal role.

Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk and WhoScored.com.

Follow @jacklusby_

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29RrYXH
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho made his first appearance of Liverpool‘s pre-season on Sunday afternoon, lining up alongside the likes of Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in the first half of the Reds’ 2-0 win away to Wigan Athletic and providing a salient reminder of his importance to Jurgen Klopp.

Over 45 minutes at the DW Stadium, Coutinho twisted, turned and surged through the Latics defence, testing goalkeeper Lee Nicholls whenever possible in a display that belied his lack of match fitness—he had spent close to a month out of action following Brazil’s exit from the Copa America Centenario.

The 24-year-old hit the woodwork twice and looked to have struck up a positive early understanding with summer signing Mane, as well as resuming his excellent combination play with his compatriot, Roberto Firmino.

It was a strong showing from the former Inter Milan midfielder, one that saw Goal’s Melissa Reddy hail him for his class and cutting edge:

Coutinho is in line to start Liverpool’s final domestic friendly away to Huddersfield Town on July 20 before taking up a key role for the Reds during their money-spinning tour of the United States, where he can test his abilities against Chelsea (July 27), AC Milan (July 30) and AS Roma (August 1).

He will be joined by the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Nathaniel Clyne, Divock Origi and Emre Can on the other side of the Atlantic as Klopp‘s summer internationals return to availability following their respective holidays.

But despite the plethora of big-name stars at Klopp‘s disposal this summer—and with another to come in Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who according to the Shields Gazette‘s Miles Starford is closing in on a move to Merseyside from Newcastle United—Coutinho remains the German’s key player.

“Our country has many brilliant players in Europe,” Brazilian legend Pele told LFCTV on the midfielder’s return to pre-season training. “There are other good young Brazilians in Europe at the moment, but they don’t have Philippe’s experience. He grew up in Europe, moving to Italy when he was just 17 or 18—so he’s a more experienced player already.”

As Pele’s praise attests, Coutinho‘s majesty is finally being recognised in his home country, with his performances underlining his blossoming talent, despite Brazil’s miserable Copa America campaign.

They included a hat-trick as Brazil thrashed Haiti 7-1 at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, leading then-manager Dunga to tell reporters, “That is what we wanted [from him].”

Throughout the Copa America, Coutinho was stationed on the left flank in Dunga‘s 4-2-3-1 formation, and it was in this role that he shined most regularly under Klopp in 2015/16. With Firmino‘s arrival in a deal worth £25 million last summer, the former Hoffenheim man was established as Liverpool’s first-choice No. 10.

The space provided by this wide role allows Coutinho to drive at defences, combine with rampaging left-backs and, perhaps most notably, cut inside onto his stronger right foot and unleash shots on goal—as he proved against Haiti.

In 2015/16, Coutinho enjoyed his most prolific campaign yet, scoring 12 goals and laying on seven assists in 43 games in all competitions, averaging a goal contribution every 169 minutes. For a player who has made a name for himself as the pass-before-the-assist creator, this is a strong level of output.

Only Daniel Sturridge scored more goals than Coutinho last season, while only three players—James Milner (14), Firmino (11) and Adam Lallana (eight)—made more assists.

His attacking exploits throughout 2015/16 saw him receive a clean sweep of awards at Liverpool’s end-of-season ceremony, with the club’s official website revealing that he had been named Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year, as well as receiving awards for Goal of the Year and Performance of the year.

That he was able to translate this form to the international stage—again, despite Brazil’s early exit from the Copa America—is a testament to Coutinho‘s progress as a young talent, and Klopp will be hoping he can continue this throughout pre-season and into the new campaign.

The German has made significant additions to his attacking line so far this summer, and the £30 million signing of Mane is set to be followed by the arrival of Wijnaldum from Tyneside, further adding to his options:

• Right Wing—Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Sheyi Ojo
• No. 10—Roberto Firmino, Georginio Wijnaldum
• Left Wing—Philippe Coutinho

The flexibility of Mane, Ojo and Wijnaldum in particular will give Klopp the ability to alter his forward line to suit the tactical demands of specific fixtures. He’ll likely revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation whenever possible, with three of his attacking midfielders in support of Sturridge, Origi or Danny Ings in attack.

However, assessing each attacking player’s natural position, Coutinho stands out as the only guaranteed starter, as Mane, Lallana, Ojo, Firmino and Wijnaldum are all more comfortable away from the left flank.

In 2015/16, 26 of Coutinho‘s 33 appearances under Klopp came on the left wing, as the former Borussia Dortmund manager was clearly set on his Brazilian maestro as first choice on that flank, while Firmino and Lallana were most regularly stationed in the centre and the right of his supporting unit, respectively.

Most impressively Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana shined in Liverpool’s 4-1 win away to Manchester City in November, and at the Etihad Stadium, the 24-year-old was at his most influential.

Coutinho scored one, assisted another, played more key passes than any other Liverpool player (three) and—showcasing an area of his game that has developed rapidly following Klopp‘s arrival—led the press with three successful tackles and one interception, a combined total higher than both Firmino and Lallana.

It was a performance that saw everything click for the Reds, and Coutinho was at the heart of it, with his exceptional talents meshing perfectly with Klopp‘s attacking system.

However, perhaps more indicative of Coutinho‘s importance to Klopp‘s Liverpool was his 65-minute display away to Aston Villa on Valentine’s Day, laying on assists for Sturridge and Origi on the way to a remarkable 6-0 victory at Villa Park. WhoScored.com labelled him its Man of the Match:

Against Villa, Coutinho provided the perfect example of his combination play alongside many of Klopp‘s key players.

The Brazilian’s quick feet and passing ability sees pacy strikers such as Sturridge and Origi thrive, his industry complements the hardworking Firmino and Lallana and his front-footed attacking style informs a strong understanding with Mamadou Sakho and Alberto Moreno as Klopp‘s left-sided defenders.

Slotting Coutinho into the lineup makes Klopp‘s Liverpool significantly more cohesive, and despite a makeover of his attacking ranks this summer, the German would be unwise to uproot his award-winning talent.

After enjoying his most impressive season yet on Merseyside and bringing that form into the Brazil squad this summer, Coutinho is poised to reinforce his importance to Liverpool throughout 2016/17.

If Klopp‘s side are to enjoy success this season, Coutinho will need to play a pivotal role.

Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk and WhoScored.com.

Follow @jacklusby_

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29RrYXH
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho made his first appearance of Liverpool‘s pre-season on Sunday afternoon, lining up alongside the likes of Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in the first half of the Reds’ 2-0 win away to Wigan Athletic and providing a salient reminder of his importance to Jurgen Klopp.

Over 45 minutes at the DW Stadium, Coutinho twisted, turned and surged through the Latics defence, testing goalkeeper Lee Nicholls whenever possible in a display that belied his lack of match fitness—he had spent close to a month out of action following Brazil’s exit from the Copa America Centenario.

The 24-year-old hit the woodwork twice and looked to have struck up a positive early understanding with summer signing Mane, as well as resuming his excellent combination play with his compatriot, Roberto Firmino.

It was a strong showing from the former Inter Milan midfielder, one that saw Goal’s Melissa Reddy hail him for his class and cutting edge:

Coutinho is in line to start Liverpool’s final domestic friendly away to Huddersfield Town on July 20 before taking up a key role for the Reds during their money-spinning tour of the United States, where he can test his abilities against Chelsea (July 27), AC Milan (July 30) and AS Roma (August 1).

He will be joined by the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Nathaniel Clyne, Divock Origi and Emre Can on the other side of the Atlantic as Klopp‘s summer internationals return to availability following their respective holidays.

But despite the plethora of big-name stars at Klopp‘s disposal this summer—and with another to come in Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who according to the Shields Gazette‘s Miles Starford is closing in on a move to Merseyside from Newcastle United—Coutinho remains the German’s key player.

“Our country has many brilliant players in Europe,” Brazilian legend Pele told LFCTV on the midfielder’s return to pre-season training. “There are other good young Brazilians in Europe at the moment, but they don’t have Philippe’s experience. He grew up in Europe, moving to Italy when he was just 17 or 18—so he’s a more experienced player already.”

As Pele’s praise attests, Coutinho‘s majesty is finally being recognised in his home country, with his performances underlining his blossoming talent, despite Brazil’s miserable Copa America campaign.

They included a hat-trick as Brazil thrashed Haiti 7-1 at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, leading then-manager Dunga to tell reporters, “That is what we wanted [from him].”

Throughout the Copa America, Coutinho was stationed on the left flank in Dunga‘s 4-2-3-1 formation, and it was in this role that he shined most regularly under Klopp in 2015/16. With Firmino‘s arrival in a deal worth £25 million last summer, the former Hoffenheim man was established as Liverpool’s first-choice No. 10.

The space provided by this wide role allows Coutinho to drive at defences, combine with rampaging left-backs and, perhaps most notably, cut inside onto his stronger right foot and unleash shots on goal—as he proved against Haiti.

In 2015/16, Coutinho enjoyed his most prolific campaign yet, scoring 12 goals and laying on seven assists in 43 games in all competitions, averaging a goal contribution every 169 minutes. For a player who has made a name for himself as the pass-before-the-assist creator, this is a strong level of output.

Only Daniel Sturridge scored more goals than Coutinho last season, while only three players—James Milner (14), Firmino (11) and Adam Lallana (eight)—made more assists.

His attacking exploits throughout 2015/16 saw him receive a clean sweep of awards at Liverpool’s end-of-season ceremony, with the club’s official website revealing that he had been named Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year, as well as receiving awards for Goal of the Year and Performance of the year.

That he was able to translate this form to the international stage—again, despite Brazil’s early exit from the Copa America—is a testament to Coutinho‘s progress as a young talent, and Klopp will be hoping he can continue this throughout pre-season and into the new campaign.

The German has made significant additions to his attacking line so far this summer, and the £30 million signing of Mane is set to be followed by the arrival of Wijnaldum from Tyneside, further adding to his options:

• Right Wing—Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Sheyi Ojo
• No. 10—Roberto Firmino, Georginio Wijnaldum
• Left Wing—Philippe Coutinho

The flexibility of Mane, Ojo and Wijnaldum in particular will give Klopp the ability to alter his forward line to suit the tactical demands of specific fixtures. He’ll likely revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation whenever possible, with three of his attacking midfielders in support of Sturridge, Origi or Danny Ings in attack.

However, assessing each attacking player’s natural position, Coutinho stands out as the only guaranteed starter, as Mane, Lallana, Ojo, Firmino and Wijnaldum are all more comfortable away from the left flank.

In 2015/16, 26 of Coutinho‘s 33 appearances under Klopp came on the left wing, as the former Borussia Dortmund manager was clearly set on his Brazilian maestro as first choice on that flank, while Firmino and Lallana were most regularly stationed in the centre and the right of his supporting unit, respectively.

Most impressively Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana shined in Liverpool’s 4-1 win away to Manchester City in November, and at the Etihad Stadium, the 24-year-old was at his most influential.

Coutinho scored one, assisted another, played more key passes than any other Liverpool player (three) and—showcasing an area of his game that has developed rapidly following Klopp‘s arrival—led the press with three successful tackles and one interception, a combined total higher than both Firmino and Lallana.

It was a performance that saw everything click for the Reds, and Coutinho was at the heart of it, with his exceptional talents meshing perfectly with Klopp‘s attacking system.

However, perhaps more indicative of Coutinho‘s importance to Klopp‘s Liverpool was his 65-minute display away to Aston Villa on Valentine’s Day, laying on assists for Sturridge and Origi on the way to a remarkable 6-0 victory at Villa Park. WhoScored.com labelled him its Man of the Match:

Against Villa, Coutinho provided the perfect example of his combination play alongside many of Klopp‘s key players.

The Brazilian’s quick feet and passing ability sees pacy strikers such as Sturridge and Origi thrive, his industry complements the hardworking Firmino and Lallana and his front-footed attacking style informs a strong understanding with Mamadou Sakho and Alberto Moreno as Klopp‘s left-sided defenders.

Slotting Coutinho into the lineup makes Klopp‘s Liverpool significantly more cohesive, and despite a makeover of his attacking ranks this summer, the German would be unwise to uproot his award-winning talent.

After enjoying his most impressive season yet on Merseyside and bringing that form into the Brazil squad this summer, Coutinho is poised to reinforce his importance to Liverpool throughout 2016/17.

If Klopp‘s side are to enjoy success this season, Coutinho will need to play a pivotal role.

Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk and WhoScored.com.

Follow @jacklusby_

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29RrYXH
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho made his first appearance of Liverpool‘s pre-season on Sunday afternoon, lining up alongside the likes of Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in the first half of the Reds’ 2-0 win away to Wigan Athletic and providing a salient reminder of his importance to Jurgen Klopp.

Over 45 minutes at the DW Stadium, Coutinho twisted, turned and surged through the Latics defence, testing goalkeeper Lee Nicholls whenever possible in a display that belied his lack of match fitness—he had spent close to a month out of action following Brazil’s exit from the Copa America Centenario.

The 24-year-old hit the woodwork twice and looked to have struck up a positive early understanding with summer signing Mane, as well as resuming his excellent combination play with his compatriot, Roberto Firmino.

It was a strong showing from the former Inter Milan midfielder, one that saw Goal’s Melissa Reddy hail him for his class and cutting edge:

Coutinho is in line to start Liverpool’s final domestic friendly away to Huddersfield Town on July 20 before taking up a key role for the Reds during their money-spinning tour of the United States, where he can test his abilities against Chelsea (July 27), AC Milan (July 30) and AS Roma (August 1).

He will be joined by the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Nathaniel Clyne, Divock Origi and Emre Can on the other side of the Atlantic as Klopp‘s summer internationals return to availability following their respective holidays.

But despite the plethora of big-name stars at Klopp‘s disposal this summer—and with another to come in Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who according to the Shields Gazette‘s Miles Starford is closing in on a move to Merseyside from Newcastle United—Coutinho remains the German’s key player.

“Our country has many brilliant players in Europe,” Brazilian legend Pele told LFCTV on the midfielder’s return to pre-season training. “There are other good young Brazilians in Europe at the moment, but they don’t have Philippe’s experience. He grew up in Europe, moving to Italy when he was just 17 or 18—so he’s a more experienced player already.”

As Pele’s praise attests, Coutinho‘s majesty is finally being recognised in his home country, with his performances underlining his blossoming talent, despite Brazil’s miserable Copa America campaign.

They included a hat-trick as Brazil thrashed Haiti 7-1 at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, leading then-manager Dunga to tell reporters, “That is what we wanted [from him].”

Throughout the Copa America, Coutinho was stationed on the left flank in Dunga‘s 4-2-3-1 formation, and it was in this role that he shined most regularly under Klopp in 2015/16. With Firmino‘s arrival in a deal worth £25 million last summer, the former Hoffenheim man was established as Liverpool’s first-choice No. 10.

The space provided by this wide role allows Coutinho to drive at defences, combine with rampaging left-backs and, perhaps most notably, cut inside onto his stronger right foot and unleash shots on goal—as he proved against Haiti.

In 2015/16, Coutinho enjoyed his most prolific campaign yet, scoring 12 goals and laying on seven assists in 43 games in all competitions, averaging a goal contribution every 169 minutes. For a player who has made a name for himself as the pass-before-the-assist creator, this is a strong level of output.

Only Daniel Sturridge scored more goals than Coutinho last season, while only three players—James Milner (14), Firmino (11) and Adam Lallana (eight)—made more assists.

His attacking exploits throughout 2015/16 saw him receive a clean sweep of awards at Liverpool’s end-of-season ceremony, with the club’s official website revealing that he had been named Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year, as well as receiving awards for Goal of the Year and Performance of the year.

That he was able to translate this form to the international stage—again, despite Brazil’s early exit from the Copa America—is a testament to Coutinho‘s progress as a young talent, and Klopp will be hoping he can continue this throughout pre-season and into the new campaign.

The German has made significant additions to his attacking line so far this summer, and the £30 million signing of Mane is set to be followed by the arrival of Wijnaldum from Tyneside, further adding to his options:

• Right Wing—Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Sheyi Ojo
• No. 10—Roberto Firmino, Georginio Wijnaldum
• Left Wing—Philippe Coutinho

The flexibility of Mane, Ojo and Wijnaldum in particular will give Klopp the ability to alter his forward line to suit the tactical demands of specific fixtures. He’ll likely revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation whenever possible, with three of his attacking midfielders in support of Sturridge, Origi or Danny Ings in attack.

However, assessing each attacking player’s natural position, Coutinho stands out as the only guaranteed starter, as Mane, Lallana, Ojo, Firmino and Wijnaldum are all more comfortable away from the left flank.

In 2015/16, 26 of Coutinho‘s 33 appearances under Klopp came on the left wing, as the former Borussia Dortmund manager was clearly set on his Brazilian maestro as first choice on that flank, while Firmino and Lallana were most regularly stationed in the centre and the right of his supporting unit, respectively.

Most impressively Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana shined in Liverpool’s 4-1 win away to Manchester City in November, and at the Etihad Stadium, the 24-year-old was at his most influential.

Coutinho scored one, assisted another, played more key passes than any other Liverpool player (three) and—showcasing an area of his game that has developed rapidly following Klopp‘s arrival—led the press with three successful tackles and one interception, a combined total higher than both Firmino and Lallana.

It was a performance that saw everything click for the Reds, and Coutinho was at the heart of it, with his exceptional talents meshing perfectly with Klopp‘s attacking system.

However, perhaps more indicative of Coutinho‘s importance to Klopp‘s Liverpool was his 65-minute display away to Aston Villa on Valentine’s Day, laying on assists for Sturridge and Origi on the way to a remarkable 6-0 victory at Villa Park. WhoScored.com labelled him its Man of the Match:

Against Villa, Coutinho provided the perfect example of his combination play alongside many of Klopp‘s key players.

The Brazilian’s quick feet and passing ability sees pacy strikers such as Sturridge and Origi thrive, his industry complements the hardworking Firmino and Lallana and his front-footed attacking style informs a strong understanding with Mamadou Sakho and Alberto Moreno as Klopp‘s left-sided defenders.

Slotting Coutinho into the lineup makes Klopp‘s Liverpool significantly more cohesive, and despite a makeover of his attacking ranks this summer, the German would be unwise to uproot his award-winning talent.

After enjoying his most impressive season yet on Merseyside and bringing that form into the Brazil squad this summer, Coutinho is poised to reinforce his importance to Liverpool throughout 2016/17.

If Klopp‘s side are to enjoy success this season, Coutinho will need to play a pivotal role.

Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk and WhoScored.com.

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Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho made his first appearance of Liverpool‘s pre-season on Sunday afternoon, lining up alongside the likes of Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in the first half of the Reds’ 2-0 win away to Wigan Athletic and providing a salient reminder of his importance to Jurgen Klopp.

Over 45 minutes at the DW Stadium, Coutinho twisted, turned and surged through the Latics defence, testing goalkeeper Lee Nicholls whenever possible in a display that belied his lack of match fitness—he had spent close to a month out of action following Brazil’s exit from the Copa America Centenario.

The 24-year-old hit the woodwork twice and looked to have struck up a positive early understanding with summer signing Mane, as well as resuming his excellent combination play with his compatriot, Roberto Firmino.

It was a strong showing from the former Inter Milan midfielder, one that saw Goal’s Melissa Reddy hail him for his class and cutting edge:

Coutinho is in line to start Liverpool’s final domestic friendly away to Huddersfield Town on July 20 before taking up a key role for the Reds during their money-spinning tour of the United States, where he can test his abilities against Chelsea (July 27), AC Milan (July 30) and AS Roma (August 1).

He will be joined by the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Nathaniel Clyne, Divock Origi and Emre Can on the other side of the Atlantic as Klopp‘s summer internationals return to availability following their respective holidays.

But despite the plethora of big-name stars at Klopp‘s disposal this summer—and with another to come in Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who according to the Shields Gazette‘s Miles Starford is closing in on a move to Merseyside from Newcastle United—Coutinho remains the German’s key player.

“Our country has many brilliant players in Europe,” Brazilian legend Pele told LFCTV on the midfielder’s return to pre-season training. “There are other good young Brazilians in Europe at the moment, but they don’t have Philippe’s experience. He grew up in Europe, moving to Italy when he was just 17 or 18—so he’s a more experienced player already.”

As Pele’s praise attests, Coutinho‘s majesty is finally being recognised in his home country, with his performances underlining his blossoming talent, despite Brazil’s miserable Copa America campaign.

They included a hat-trick as Brazil thrashed Haiti 7-1 at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, leading then-manager Dunga to tell reporters, “That is what we wanted [from him].”

Throughout the Copa America, Coutinho was stationed on the left flank in Dunga‘s 4-2-3-1 formation, and it was in this role that he shined most regularly under Klopp in 2015/16. With Firmino‘s arrival in a deal worth £25 million last summer, the former Hoffenheim man was established as Liverpool’s first-choice No. 10.

The space provided by this wide role allows Coutinho to drive at defences, combine with rampaging left-backs and, perhaps most notably, cut inside onto his stronger right foot and unleash shots on goal—as he proved against Haiti.

In 2015/16, Coutinho enjoyed his most prolific campaign yet, scoring 12 goals and laying on seven assists in 43 games in all competitions, averaging a goal contribution every 169 minutes. For a player who has made a name for himself as the pass-before-the-assist creator, this is a strong level of output.

Only Daniel Sturridge scored more goals than Coutinho last season, while only three players—James Milner (14), Firmino (11) and Adam Lallana (eight)—made more assists.

His attacking exploits throughout 2015/16 saw him receive a clean sweep of awards at Liverpool’s end-of-season ceremony, with the club’s official website revealing that he had been named Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year, as well as receiving awards for Goal of the Year and Performance of the year.

That he was able to translate this form to the international stage—again, despite Brazil’s early exit from the Copa America—is a testament to Coutinho‘s progress as a young talent, and Klopp will be hoping he can continue this throughout pre-season and into the new campaign.

The German has made significant additions to his attacking line so far this summer, and the £30 million signing of Mane is set to be followed by the arrival of Wijnaldum from Tyneside, further adding to his options:

• Right Wing—Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Sheyi Ojo
• No. 10—Roberto Firmino, Georginio Wijnaldum
• Left Wing—Philippe Coutinho

The flexibility of Mane, Ojo and Wijnaldum in particular will give Klopp the ability to alter his forward line to suit the tactical demands of specific fixtures. He’ll likely revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation whenever possible, with three of his attacking midfielders in support of Sturridge, Origi or Danny Ings in attack.

However, assessing each attacking player’s natural position, Coutinho stands out as the only guaranteed starter, as Mane, Lallana, Ojo, Firmino and Wijnaldum are all more comfortable away from the left flank.

In 2015/16, 26 of Coutinho‘s 33 appearances under Klopp came on the left wing, as the former Borussia Dortmund manager was clearly set on his Brazilian maestro as first choice on that flank, while Firmino and Lallana were most regularly stationed in the centre and the right of his supporting unit, respectively.

Most impressively Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana shined in Liverpool’s 4-1 win away to Manchester City in November, and at the Etihad Stadium, the 24-year-old was at his most influential.

Coutinho scored one, assisted another, played more key passes than any other Liverpool player (three) and—showcasing an area of his game that has developed rapidly following Klopp‘s arrival—led the press with three successful tackles and one interception, a combined total higher than both Firmino and Lallana.

It was a performance that saw everything click for the Reds, and Coutinho was at the heart of it, with his exceptional talents meshing perfectly with Klopp‘s attacking system.

However, perhaps more indicative of Coutinho‘s importance to Klopp‘s Liverpool was his 65-minute display away to Aston Villa on Valentine’s Day, laying on assists for Sturridge and Origi on the way to a remarkable 6-0 victory at Villa Park. WhoScored.com labelled him its Man of the Match:

Against Villa, Coutinho provided the perfect example of his combination play alongside many of Klopp‘s key players.

The Brazilian’s quick feet and passing ability sees pacy strikers such as Sturridge and Origi thrive, his industry complements the hardworking Firmino and Lallana and his front-footed attacking style informs a strong understanding with Mamadou Sakho and Alberto Moreno as Klopp‘s left-sided defenders.

Slotting Coutinho into the lineup makes Klopp‘s Liverpool significantly more cohesive, and despite a makeover of his attacking ranks this summer, the German would be unwise to uproot his award-winning talent.

After enjoying his most impressive season yet on Merseyside and bringing that form into the Brazil squad this summer, Coutinho is poised to reinforce his importance to Liverpool throughout 2016/17.

If Klopp‘s side are to enjoy success this season, Coutinho will need to play a pivotal role.

Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk and WhoScored.com.

Follow @jacklusby_

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It is never an easy decision to make, but Marco Verratti sacrificed his place at the UEFA 2016 European Championship this summer, and now the Italian midfielder is on the road to recovery. Once back to 100 percent, the little maestro will be the man tasked with being the face of Paris Saint-Germain and the general in new manager Unai Emery’s regime.

“The operation will take place in Doha on 16 May at the Aspetar Centre—the club’s official medical partner. The midfielder, who recently extended his contract until 2020, is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks,” the club announced in an official statement (via the Guardian).

“As a result Marco Verratti will play no part in Paris Saint-Germain’s final matches of the season, or Euro 2016, to be held in France between 10 June and 10 July. Paris Saint-Germain wishes the player a speedy recovery and hopes he will soon be fully fit and back to his best for both club and country.”

All signs suggest that the surgery was a success and the player has been back in training. The 23-year-old didn’t travel to Austria with his team-mates; it was decided that he would stay in Paris and continue his individual work.

“The Euros were an objective of mine, as I am part of a great national team, they had faith in me and I felt very important,” Verratti told news agency Ansa in May (h/t Football Italia).

“I suffered a great deal when learning I’d have to miss the tournament due to injury, but football is like that. Now I just need to focus on recovering as quickly as possible.”

Since their return to the Camp des Loges last week, Marco is back with the group and is expected to travel to across the Atlantic, to take part in PSG’s North American tour.

When Hatem Ben Arfa signed on a free, it was expected that the former Nice playmaker would take on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s vacant No. 10 jersey, but apparently, it has already been promised to one of his team members.

There has been no confirmation just yet, but it is reportedly between Verratti and Javier Pastore. If handed to the Italian, it would be a huge indication as to just how important the former Pescara player is regarded by Unai Emery.

Verratti already wears No. 6, that was changed last summer from No. 24, there is no real need to change numbers again, but the iconic No. 10 would symbolise his position in the squad and could leave a hint as to where he could play this season.

PSG’s training camp in Austria was capped off with a 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion. The French side started the game playing 4-2-3-1, the expected formation that Emery will likely play when Ligue 1 gets under way at the start of August.

“We’ve been working for 10 days now, and I’m very happy with what we’ve accomplished so far,” declared coach Unai Emery after the opening game of the pre-season preparations, as reported on the club website.

New signing, Grzegorz Krychowiak, was expected to partner Verratti at the base of the midfield, but that would mean that the Spanish boss would have six players trying to compete for two positions.

Blaise Matuidi, Adrien Rabiot, Benjamin Stambouli, Christopher Nkunku, plus Verratti and Krychowiak can all play that role. It would perhaps ruffle some feathers among the squad if that was the pecking order for the new campaign.

Manchester United, per L’Equipe (h/t The Independent), have been linked with a move for Matuidi if their pursuit of Paul Pogba doesn’t come to fruition, which would reduce PSG’s competition, but for now, Emery is spoiled for options.

One move could be to push Verratti a little further forward, using him as a hybrid between a traditional No. 10 and his more familiar deep-lying playmaker role. This would give him the freedom to push higher up the pitch, but also let him do what he does best.

No matter the formation, Verratti will continually look for the ball. The Italian sets the tone and dictates PSG’s tempo. That looked quicker under Emery as it had under Blanc, and once the more established first-team players are introduced, it will be intriguing to see how all the parts fit.

Blanc’s 4-3-3, at times, looked stale and lacking ideas, but with Krychowiak adding a more dynamic base to the midfield, Matuidi allowed to burst from the left of the base and Verratti allowed to roam and find space, there will be more room for the attacking players to operate.

“For the moment, we’re observing and analysing what there is that we can improve on. Assistant coach, Juan Carlos Carcedo told the official website on Monday. “The team has been getting fantastic results over the last few seasons. So we’ll try to do at least as well, while improving on some details. The objective is to construct a real team that can make the supporters proud.”

When Pastore played as a No. 10, Ibrahimovic often pushed him out of the way—the two rarely gelled when played together. With Verratti as the most advanced central midfielder, there would be space to cut inside from the wings for Pastore, Ben Arfa and Angel Di Maria, bringing more movement across the pitch and asking more questions of defenders.

Verratti has often been criticised for the lack of assists he provides for the team—just 18 in five seasons—moving him forward, giving him licence to pull the trigger and his already outstanding ability on the pitch could become even greater.

PSG resumed training in Paris on Saturday, they will travel to the west coast of America this week, before training at their base in Los Angeles on Thursday ahead of their match with Inter Milan at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Sunday 24.

That will be their first fixture in this summer’s International Champions Cup, where they will also face Real Madrid and Leicester City later in the month.

We should have a better idea after those three games just how Unai Emery intends to line up his team this season. The most important thing this term is flexibility. It’s not just about the players he uses, but that he mixes up where they play, and he must not let the team and his tactics become predictable.

Playing Verratti as the No. 10 would throw up a whole new dimension for the Spanish boss and could be exactly what PSG need to make their assault on Europe this campaign.

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Former Italy star Andrea Pirlo has spoken of his frustration with compatriot Mario Balotelli for so far failing to live up to his potential. 

Per the Mirror‘s David Anderson, he believes the 25-year-old is running out of time to do so:

He frustrates me, but I do have so much affection for Mario. 

He is infectious to be around. When I used to see him walk into training for Italy, he would have this big smile on his face—and I would just burst out laughing—and start wondering what is he thinking, what is he up to?

Mario should not just be a character the media write about for good stories. We shouldn’t forget what a special player he is.

I have played with some of the best strikers, and I can tell you Mario has all the attributes to be one of the best strikers in the world.

By now I thought that is where he would be, that is where he should be. He has no more time to waste.

The striker emerged as a hot prospect at Inter Milan before moving to Manchester City, where he showed further glimpses of his talent. He secured a place in their history by assisting Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp Premier League-winning strike:

However, he struggled to make an impact in his third season. Balotelli left the Sky Blues in January 2013 for AC Milan, where he netted 12 goals in 13 matches and another 18 the following season.

His career seemed to be back on the up when Liverpool turned to him as they sought a replacement for Luis Suarez, but after scraping together just four goals at Anfield he was quickly loaned back to the Rossoneri last season.

With the first half of his campaign disrupted by injury, Balotelli netted three goals in 23 appearances.

Per the Mirror‘s David Maddock, he has subsequently returned to Liverpool but has been told by manager Jurgen Klopp he has no future at the club.

Betting site Paddy Power summed up his options:

Filippo Bonsignore of Italian outlet Corriere della Sera (via Sport Witness, h/t the Mirror‘s Liam Corless) reported the forward’s camp has been trying to negotiate a big-money deal to the Chinese Super League.

Pirlo hopes he will put his career before riches, though:

He has played for so many big clubs, it’s easy to forget he’s only 25. He still has time to make it at the very top.

He needs to pick his next club carefully. I have read things about him and China. With all respect to their league, Mario should not be going there yet.

If he has two or three good seasons at his next club, he will still only be 28 and could join one of the top clubs in Europe.

I don’t have any advice for him anymore, he knows the qualities that he has. From this point, it’s up to Mario.

Indeed, Balotelli’s career is already faltering, and he failed to make Antonio Conte’s UEFA Euro 2016 Italy squad—a move to China as he approaches what should be his peak years will make resurrecting his top-level career very difficult.

The mercurial frontman is already well on his way to becoming one of the biggest “what ifs” in the modern game. Heading to the Far East could cement that.

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