German football legend Lothar Matthaus has claimed that Philippe Coutinho is being played in a wrong position for Liverpool.
Coutinho has shown his versatility under the management of Jurgen Klopp and has transformed into arguably one of the best playmakers in World football.
The Brazil international has been largely deployed on the left of a front three alongside Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. He does however play further back when on international duty with Brazil.
Barcelona are interested in recruiting Coutinho in the near future and see him as a perfect successor to Andres Iniesta who is now entering the latter years of his career.
“Philippe Coutinho is the leader of this Liverpool side, the player who can make the difference at the highest level,” Matthaus wrote in his column for The Sun.
“That’s why Barcelona wanted him when they lost Neymar to PSG. Brazilian Coutinho is really important for Klopp’s system but I think he is at his best playing somewhat deeper.
“If he is slightly off the front line, he will get more time and that makes him more dangerous.
“Defensively, you have to get at Coutinho as the ball arrives. You cannot afford to let him control it because then it is too late.
“He will open you up with a run or a pass, so all you can try to do is block off his angles. But even then he can kill you with one pass and decide a game.”
