STATS: Coutinho's long-range prowess shows he's worth new deal

Sport360 staff 17:52 25/01/2017
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  • Kop star: The Brazilian is a key man.

    There’s a reason why Liverpool have made Philippe Coutinho the highest-paid player in the club’s history with a new contract extension that will run until 2022.

    The Brazilian’s pace on the ball, combined with his trickery and vision, make him vital to Jurgen Klopp’s dynamic attack. But perhaps his biggest asset is his rocket of a right foot.

    The sight of Coutinho within 30 yards of goal, winding up to shoot, strikes fear into opposition defences, who know exactly what he’s capable of from outside the box. Coutinho has made plenty of highlight reels with his long-range goals, and, as the stats show, he’s one of the Premier League’s best at scoring from distance.

    In the last three Premier League seasons, Coutinho’s nine goals scored from outside the box trail only Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen, who’s scored ten in that period.

    The 24-year-old Coutinho’s shooting range adds a different dimension to Liverpool’s attack – defenders can’t back off him knowing he’s capable of scoring from range, but attempting to cut off the option of shooting brings Coutinho’s playmaking ability into play, leaving defences vulnerable to Liverpool’s other attacking players.

    It’s no wonder Liverpool have rewarded the Brazilian with a bumper new £200,000 per week renewal (AED924k).

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