The 10 best Liverpool goals of the 2016/2017 season: VIDEO
By David Gate
Number 7: Philippe Coutinho v Hull City
This goal against Hull has become something of a trademark for the Brazilian. Every time Coutinho picks up the ball on the left hand side of the box you know what he wants to do. You can audibly hear the Kop intake their breath in expectation of something special. This is because they’ve seen it time and time again. There have been numerous occasions where Liverpool have been struggling to get a handle on a game and strike like this opens the game up for the Reds to dominate.
Even though you know it’s coming there is very little you can do about it. There is too much pace and accuracy on these shots. They dip perfectly to tuck in under the cross-bar. Philippe Coutinho’s ability to score goals like this is essential for Liverpool.
As well giving his team numerous goals it also forces the opposition to defend in ways they don’t want to. Most of Liverpool’s attacking centers on quick, fluid interplay between their front quartet. This includes a lot of short and sharp passing in tight areas. To combat this teams tend to sit deeper and flood the edge of their box with defenders.
The threat of goals like this from Coutinho forces defenders out to come and meet him. You absolutely can’t let him have the ball on his right foot as he cuts in from the left side. He will punish you for it. As the defenses come out to close down this threat, space opens up behind them for the clever movement of Firmino and Lallana to collect the ball in the box.