Liverpool news: Reds claim made about Barcelona struggler Philippe Coutinho
BARCELONA star Philippe Coutinho is 'nowhere near' the player he was during his time at Liverpool, according to ESPN pundit Alejandro Moreno.
Posted Tuesday, January 29, 2019 by Dailystar.co.uk
Coutinho has featured heavily for Barcelona under Ernesto Valverde this season and starts regularly for the European giants.
But fans and pundits appear to be less than impressed with the playmaker since his Nou Camp arrival.
And Moreno claims there is no longer a debate about whether Coutinho belongs at Barcelona, with the pundit insisting he does not fit the bill in Spain.
"I don’t think there’s a debate now, never mind us, I think in his mind he doesn’t quite fit.," he said after Barcelona's 2-0 win over Girona.
"He doesn’t seem to be very comfortable with the ball, without the ball, he seems to get in people’s way.
"He’s nowhere near the player he showed to be with Liverpool at one point and that he is for Brazil nowadays.
"He receives the ball and you almost expect him to turn it over. You’re not expecting the guy that cuts inside and hits that bending shot that we’re using to seeing him do.
"He’s a player that right now doesn’t have a whole lot of confidence.
Philippe Coutinho continues to struggle at Barcelona (Pic: GETTY/ESPN)
Philippe Coutinho is struggling (Pic: Getty)
Philippe Coutinho left Liverpool for Barcelona last January (Pic: Getty)
"If you’re at Barcelona, you better have the confidence because if you’ve got to keep up with the kind of performances Lionel Messi is putting up and you’re going to be adding value to that, then you have to be doing that consistently.
"He has not been able to do it at all.”
But speaking at the weekend, Valverde once again leapt to Coutinho's defence.
He said: “What I like about him is that he always tries things and takes on his man. It might work or it might not.
Alejandro Moreno says Philippe Coutinho isn't replicating his Liverpool form (Pic: ESPN)
"He had chances but didn't score because their goalkeeper is excellent.
"He'll convert other chances soon."
Reports in Spain suggest Coutinho is being shunned by team-mate Lionel Messi.
The Argentinian has been accused of not passing to the former Liverpool ace.
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