Sportskeeda's list of 50 best players playing currently: 40-31

#34 Phillipe Coutinho

The Brazilian may have superseded Steven Gerrard as the main-man on Merseyside, but he hasn’t forgotten those who were pivotal in his ascent, claiming that he has a “special gratitude” for Brendan Rodgers in particular who signed Coutinho from Inter in 2013 for a modest £8.5 million.

His ability, and with it his rumoured price tag, have both ballooned since. In many respects, the 24-year-old epitomises everything about the growing philosophy at Anfield – emphasis on youth and energetic, fast-paced football. His reputation as a dead-ball specialist is by no means an overstatement either, given his catalogue of block-busting strikes this term so far.

The Premier League is very much wide open this season, and Liverpool are among the most likely to cause an upset. Coutinho’s been crucial in this success so far, having scored on five occasions, creating 33 chances and maintaining an average pass completion of 84%. He’s well suited to a quick counter-attacking style of play but would also be adept in a more possession-orientated set-up.