The only team to have won the World Cup a record five times, Brazil have constantly produced supremely talented, world-class players.
Players such as Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka and now Neymar are known to most football fans around the world and the skills of these players have earned respect and applause from every corner of the footballing world.
However, most of these Samba players made their name either in the La Liga with Spanish powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid or in Italy with the Milan clubs of Inter and AC Milan. The Premier League has never been home to these masters of the game, for the most part.
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However, in recent years, there has been a wave of Brazilian players making their way to England trade with Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino at Liverpool, Willian and David Luiz at Chelsea, Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus at Manchester City and Gabriel Paulista at Arsenal.
These players have played a crucial role in their club’s ambitions and while Manchester City’s latest young entrant this January, Jesus, is highly-rated, no Brazilian player is as highly spoken about as Coutinho. The 24-year-old’s ability has been on display for a while now and with the fact that he is entering his peak years, a number of teams, especially Barcelona, are eager to prise away the Liverpool No. 10, if an opportunity arises.
Coutinho underlined his credentials by coming off the bench to score the equaliser against Stoke City in gameweek 32 of the Premier League and his Brazilian team-mate scored a Suarez-esque goal to win the match for the Reds.
By scoring the goal, Coutinho created a piece of Brazilian history by crossing former Middlesbrough attacker Juninho to become the highest scoring Brazilian in the history of the Premier League.
The goal was his 30th for Liverpool in the league and given his age, one can be assured that he will set a high benchmark for Brazilians who are in the league or join the league later, to live up to.
His current competition is his team-mate Firmino who is 4th on the list with 20 goals. Further, Coutinho has 28 assists in the league, another Brazilian record, while Firmino has 13 assists in the league at the end of gameweek 32 this season.
Also Read – Barcelona Transfer News: Neymar describes Coutinho as a “perfect fit” for Barcelona
The links will not stop for the 24-year-old as he grows in stature, especially from Barcelona, where his national team-mate Neymar plays. He recently signed a new bumper contract at Liverpool, becoming the highest-paid player in Jurgen Klopp’s side. While the ramblings off the pitch continue, Coutinho’s on-field performances are something to savour for football purists and each one of his 30 goals makes for delightful viewing.
Here are his top 5 goals based on importance and the skill involved.
#5 QPR, May 2013
In his first season at the club, having joined in January 2013, Coutinho combined well with Daniel Sturridge in Luis Suarez’s absence. When QPR arrived at Anfield in May, Coutinho took the opportunity to display his long-range shooting ability.
Receiving the ball from Jordon Ibe, Coutinho was given plenty of space and instead of performing a trick or splitting open the defence, the Brazilian scored an absolute rocket from around 30 yards out that landed in the bottom corner. The goal was a teaser for what was to come and it reminded people of a young Steven Gerrard.
(Video Courtesy – Merseysides YouTube Channel)
#4 Manchester City, March 2015
Manchester City are one of Coutinho’s favourite sides to score against as he has four goals against them in the league. He scored a much more important goal the previous year, but this goal makes the list due to the sheer quality of it. Liverpool went ahead with Jordan Henderson scoring before Edin Dzeko equalised for the visitors.
In the second-half, with the Brazilian looking the most likely to score, he did not disappoint as he cut in from the left flank on to his preferred right foot (similar to Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben) and unleashed a sumptuous curler to beat City goalkeeper Joe Hart from 25 yards in front of the Kop.
The pace and the dip on the ball were perfect as was the sweetness of the strike when it left his foot.
(Video Courtesy – Zico7 YouTube Channel)
#3 Stoke City, August 2015
Philippe Coutinho established his match-winning prowess with a terrific goal against Stoke City on the opening day of the season in 2015. Normally a very tough defence to break, especially at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke City looked set to frustrate the Reds once again.
However, it was Coutinho who stepped up to score a 25-yard scorcher that brushed past the fingertips of Jack Butland in the 86th minute to seal the win for Liverpool. The goal had everything associated with a trademark Coutinho goal – a cut in from the left and a powerful strike from outside the box to raise the team’s spirits.
(Video Courtesy – Futbol Life YouTube Channel)
#2 Manchester City, April 2014
No other goal scored by the Little Magician had as much importance as this goal at Anfield. Liverpool’s sensational attack led by Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge had propelled them to the top of the league at that point in time. Liverpool’s quick starts were a trademark that season and Raheem Sterling along with Martin Skrtel put Liverpool in front at the break.
Manchester City got back into the game with David Silva pulling the strings and Liverpool’s nine-match winning streak was looking under massive threat as the Reds seemed slightly jaded compared to City.
However, with 12 minutes remaining, a sliced shot from Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany inside the box allowed Coutinho to bury it past Joe Hart as Anfield erupted.
(Video Courtesy – TheLFC Zone YouTube Channel)
That goal was undoubtedly the most important goal scored that season and although Liverpool endured heart-ache as City eventually won the title, Coutinho’s goal was one that would be remembered through the ages for its sheer importance.
#1 Arsenal, August 2016
A lot was riding on Liverpool as the 2016/17 Premier League season began with Jurgen Klopp’s Reds expected to improve upon last season’s losses in the League Cup and Europa League finals. The first match happened to be against Arsenal at the Emirates and the Gunners went ahead through Theo Walcott while Liverpool struggled to find their rhythm.
Liverpool were awarded a free-kick from 30 yards out on the stroke of half-time and the Little Magician staked his claim as to who the main man at the club is with a stunning free-kick that had the pace, power and precision to beat Petr Cech and lift Liverpool. The Reds went on to secure a thrilling 4-3 away victory.
The win kick-started Liverpool’s title fight in the first-half of the season as Jurgen Klopp’s side were untouchable before they crashed in 2017 to bow out early from the race.
(Video Courtesy – shooteji YouTube Channel)
