Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva: Philippe Coutinho will get better and better

Lucas Leiva has tipped Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho to get better and better over the course of the Premier League campaign.

The 26-year-old Brazil international has been impressed by his compatriot’s form since the diminutive midfielder joined the Reds in a £8.5m deal from Inter Milan in the January transfer window.

Coutinho scored three goals and made seven assists in just 13 Premier League appearances as the 21-year-old took the English top-flight by storm despite his slender build.

And Lucas is backing the youngster to be one of Liverpool’s key players this term.

“We could see in half a season last year what he is able to do, and of course his quality is getting better and better and his confidence,” Lucas told Liverpool’s website.

“He’s getting older and getting more experience. It’s going to be a difficult season for him because everyone knows him now and everyone knows what he’s capable of.

“But he really settled very well and I think he will be one of the key players for us going forward during the season.

“He had a lot of experience, he didn’t come straight from Brazil – I think that helped him.

“He spent two years in Italy and six months in Spain, so he had experience already of playing in different styles of football. Of course, the Premier League is always very hard to adapt to.

“But with his qualities he got through that. Myself and other players tried to help him adapt very quickly, especially off the pitch because if you feel well off the pitch the chance to perform is even higher.”