Coutinho's "football brain" excites Rush

Liverpool legend Ian Rush is excited by the prospect of what Phillippe Coutinho can do for the club next season.

Getting his Liverpool career off to the best possible start, Coutinho has notched up three goals and five assists since his move from Inter Milan in January.

Rush told the club's official website that the Brazilian's "football brain" should see him devastate opposition defences alongside skipper Steven Gerrard, Luiz Suarez and Daniel Sturridge next season.

"He [Coutinho] has got a football brain; he sees the movement of the players. I think a lot of midfielders look to go sideways but his first thought is looking forward," he stated.

"Suarez, Sturridge and Gerrard - these are players with a football brain that know when to run into space and he [Coutinho] sees that there. He is a bit like when Kenny [Dalglish] used to play - players with these football brains see that before anyone else and I think it was nice for him to get a goal [against QPR]."

The Reds' all-time goal-scorer urged manager Brendan Rodgers to sort out his team's defensive weaknesses in order to allow the club's new attacking quartet to flourish.

"We've got to work as a team and if we can get clean sheets those four can beat any side in the world. I'm really looking forward to seeing those four playing in the same team," Rush shared.

"We're playing better football and it's good football. We're confident on the ball and that's what I like."