International Friendlies: Brazil vs Croatia, 5 Talking Points

#5 Coutinho’s return to Anfield was no great shakes

Coutinho couldn't light up his Anfield return

Among many other storylines weaved in the build-up to the kickoff, one of them was Philippe Coutinho’s return to his old stomping ground, the Anfield. The Brazilian made his first appearance in the Merseyside since swapping Liverpool for Barcelona in January, but the fans might have left with a sense of disappointment.

Starting on the left hand side of the three-pronged attack, Coutinho did drive ahead with intent but seldom threatened the Croatian defense. He, in fact, impressed only in bits and parts; particularly in a pair of quality moments from the play-maker.

He once brilliantly got the better of two defenders after cutting in from the left, but his shot was wayward. In another instance, he did well to pick out Neymar for the opener. Coutinho found a pocket of space just outside the area and laid a perfectly weighted pass for the PSG star.

The former Liverpool star has seen better days at Anfield. But today, his first return to the ground since departure, wasn’t as memorable as he would’ve liked.

---

What are your thoughts on the game? Let us know in the comments section below!