Steven Gerrard has claimed Philippe Coutinho has raised his level in training ahead of Sunday’s trip to Leeds United. Coutinho was omitted from the latest Brazil squad in September after a poor start to the season that is yet to conjure up a goal or assist.
Last month’s matches were international sides’ final opportunity to play together before the World Cup in November and so the players left out have a big task over the next month and a half to convince managers they deserve to be selected.
Coutinho is certainly someone who fits that bill and his first chance to impress Brazil boss Tite is on Sunday against Leeds. Speaking ahead of the match, Gerrard thinks Villa have already ‘seen a different’ player in training sessions since his omission as Coutinho knows he has to be at his best in the coming weeks to be on the plane to Qatar.
