Coutinho, Sturridge will be key, says Murphy

Posted Monday, August 19, 2013 by Foxsports.com

Former Liverpool player Danny Murphy believes the club stand a chance of finishing in the top four of the Premier League with Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge.

Ever since the duo arrived on Merseyside in January, Liverpool fans have been gripped by their exciting attacking displays.

Former Chelsea man Sturridge got the club's first goal of the new season on Saturday during a 1-0 win over Stoke, but Murphy told talkSPORT it was the Brazilian that had him on the edge of his seat.

"Coutinho's end-product was what impressed me [against Stoke]. He got in the right positions, his passes were correct, he made the right choices and he threatened the goal," he pointed out.

"He could actually have scored a couple himself. He put one just past the post."

With Stoke custodian Asmir Begovic in good form during the game, it took a brilliantly drilled shot from Sturridge to settle proceedings in Liverpool's favour and Murphy believed there would be many more heroic displays from Coutinho and Sturridge to come.

"Sturridge, for me, just seems to get better. It's all about confidence and he doesn't lack in that area. He shoots from anywhere, he's got skill to beat people and Stoke couldn't handle him," he noted.

"If they can keep those two [Coutinho and Sturridge] fit, I think Liverpool have got a real chance of a top-four finish."

Liverpool's next Premier League fixture sees them play Aston Villa on Saturday.