Philippe Coutinho has won the player of the month award three times out of six so far this season…
Liverpool announced earlier this week that Philippe Coutinho was voted the club’s player of the month for January, the third time the Brazilian has won the award so far this season.
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The 22-year-old has undoubtedly been in fine form so far this term, playing 36 times and scoring three goals – but has he been our best player so far this term? Check out our top five in the list below:
5) Emre Can
The 21-year-old has only been a first-team regular for the last couple of months, but his influence has been so great that we found it impossible to leave him out of our top five.
The German, who joined us from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, started life at Liverpool as a midfielder, but in mid-December he made the switch to defence.
Alongside Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel in the new-look 3-4-3 formation, he has played an integral part in turning our season around. We have lost just one of our last 16 games with Can in the team.
4) Jordan Henderson
With Steven Gerrard having announced his intention to leave Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the season, it was vital that our 24-year-old vice-captain stepped up to the plate. Thankfully, he has done exactly that!
Henderson has already racked up 38 appearances in all competitions so far this season, scoring three times. His hard-working performances have been full of passion, just as us Liverpool fans love to see, while his passing and crossing has certainly improved in recent months.
He certainly has a long way to go to prove himself an out-and-out replacement for our departing captain, but he offers the leadership qualities and outright ability that will make him a key player for years to come.
3) Lucas Leiva
The Brazilian had plenty of doubters at the start of the season. Indeed, Brendan Rodgers seemed ready to dispatch the 28-year-old in the summer transfer window, with plenty of rumours linking him with a move to Italy.
However, his revival has reflected that of Liverpool’s, with his performances inspiring us back up the Premier League table after a difficult start. As any statistics website will tell you, our record with Lucas in the team is far better than without him.
There is no other player in our squad that can play the same role he does – sitting in front of the defence and filling that gap between the back three and the rest of the midfield. He will be sorely missed as he battles his way back from injury.
2) Raheem Sterling
Many onlookers might forget that Sterling is still only 20 years of age. His truly sensational start to his Liverpool career has raised expectations through the roof, and it’s a credit to the player himself that we always expect him to deliver and impress.
Sterling has spent much of this season as a make-shift striker, and while his finishing still needs some improvement, the rest of his game is highly impressive – with nine goals in 34 games so far this term.
Considering the summer departure of Luis Suarez, the injury to Daniel Sturridge and the poor form of the rest of our striking options, we shudder to think where we’d be without Sterling.
1) Philippe Coutinho
Like Can and Lucas, Coutinho has benefited from our change in formation. The Brazilian has clearly enjoyed playing in a more advanced role, as part of the front three, being allowed to float around behind a central striker.
His vision for a pass, his clever footwork that takes him flying past opponents, and his effortless style of play are synonymous with all the great South American stars from down the years. At just 22, his potential is truly mind-boggling.
He needs to add more goals to his game – just three this season is not a great return for a player of his ability – but that will come in time. Everything else is already well and truly in place!
