Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler believes that attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho endured an “off-day” against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon.
The 25-year-old featured as Jurgen Klopp’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by the Premier League champions at Anfield.
Summer signing Mohamed Salah put the hosts in the lead before Chelsea substitute Willian notched up a fluke strike to earn the Blues a crucial point.
The result means that the Reds remain three points behind Chelsea in the league table but they are only one point adrift Tottenham in the race for the top-four.
Although Coutinho has enjoyed a fine season so far, contributing with five goals and four assists in all competitions, he failed to stamp his authority on the match against the West London club.
Writing in his column for the Mirror, Fowler believes that the Brazilian needs to offer more if he wants to be considered as a world-class talent.
“If I have a slight disappointment, it is that Liverpool didn’t make the most of their attacking situations, and that’s probably because Philippe Coutinho had an off-day,” he wrote.
“You’d love to see him have the consistency that Eden Hazard is showing.
“Yet it can be tough for players who maintain that level – remember that Hazard had a long spell a couple of seasons ago when he stopped playing at an acceptable level.”
“If Coutinho is going to be considered truly world class – at the level of Neymar and Lionel Messi then he will have to offer a bit more in games like this.”
OPINION
Fowler certainly has a point when he mentions that the Brazil international needs to deliver performances against the bigger teams. When comparing Coutinho to Hazard in the match at Anfield, it was clear that there was a clear gulp in talent and the Liverpool man has a long way to before he should be considered as a world-class player. However, it should be remembered that players can experience an off-day and we must recognise that only the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have consistently delivered the goods season after season. Of course, there will be more scrutiny over Coutinho’s performances given the rumblings about his future in the summer but he shouldn’t be judged too soon.