Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has said that Philippe Coutinho looks a “million miles off it” at Aston Villa.
He was speaking following Villa’s disappointing 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Monday night.
A win would have seen Villa climb all the way up to ninth, but Steven Gerrard’s side now sit just three points above the relegation zone in 16th after being held by Nottingham Forest, who headed into the game bottom of the table.
Coutinho was handed his sixth league start by his former Liverpool teammate but was hauled off just past the hour after another poor showing, as he recorded the lowest number of touches of any outfield Villa player, albeit with an 86% pass success rate.
Speaking on Sky Sports following the game, Carragher said (via Football Daily): “On paper, you look at them and you think there’s sort of four or five really good attacking players there, but they’re just not producing at all – and Philippe Coutinho is just a shadow of a player.
“We know he is, because obviously it didn’t go well for him at Barcelona, but he’s a million miles off it and he’s come off again.”
TIF Thoughts on Carragher’s comments…
Has Coutinho been a flop at Villa?
Yes!
No!
Having been involved in 99 goals in 201 Liverpool appearances prior to his move to Barcelona, it is clear that the 30-year-old has the ability to perform at a high level in England.
However, after averaging a return rate of a goal contribution of under one in three games following his initial loan move to the West Midlands, the maestro’s form has faltered.
He is yet to register a goal or an assist in 10 appearances across league and cup this term, while his expected goal and assist rate has dropped considerably from 0.47 per 90 to 0.18 according to FBref.
Only Wolves have scored fewer goals than Villa this season, and with Gerrard struggling to find the right formula going forward at present, a lineup without Coutinho may be worth a try against Chelsea on Sunday.