Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho similar to Ronaldinho, says Sandro

Sandro believes Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho is similar to former Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder Ronaldinho.

The Tottenham Hotspur dynamo will come up against his compatriot when second-place Liverpool make the trip to White Hart Lane on Sunday.

He does the same as Ronaldinho. You think he’s going to do one thing, and he does something completely different

Sandro on Philippe Coutinho

Coutinho has been a revelation for Liverpool since his £8.5m switch from Inter Milan in January, scoring six goals and making six assists in 29 appearances for the Reds.

And Brazil international Sandro earmarked Coutinho and Luis Suarez as Liverpool’s danger men ahead of the clash between the top-four rivals in north London.

“Coutinho’s passes are like Ronaldinho’s. He doesn’t move a lot, but his passing – you think he is going to pass here and he passes there instead,” Sandro is quoted as saying by Liverpool’s website.

“He does the same as Ronaldinho. You think he’s going to do one thing, and he does something completely different. Ronaldinho was the best player, but I think their style is similar.

“Suarez is a great footballer and in a great spell of form. He has scored a lot of goals but we are going to push to hold him and stop him.

“We know he can score wherever he is on the pitch. He can do something out of nothing. But it’s not just him. When Coutinho plays he has a good pass on him and is intelligent.

“It will be me or Etienne Capoue who will try to stop Coutinho. If midfielders have freedom they can do something to hurt you. I want to be close to him. And tackle him.”