Garth Crooks has written on BBC Sport that he thinks that Philippe Coutinho has lost interest in playing for Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion forward made the comments about Coutinho after watching him in action for Aston Villa against Chelsea at Villa Park this past weekend.
The Villans suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Blues at home in the Premier League.
Former Liverpool attacking midfielder Coutinho came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute.
Garth Crooks on Aston Villa playmaker Philippe Coutinho
Crooks wrote: “This was a slightly better performance by Villa than the one last week against Nottingham Forest but I sense manager Steven Gerrard is starting to run out of ideas.
“When players like Philippe Coutinho look like they have lost interest something is going terribly wrong.”
Disappointing
In our view, Philippe Coutinho has been a disappointment for Aston Villa so far this season.
The 30-year-old Brazil international, who can also operate as a winger, has made six starts and four substitute appearances in the Premier League for the Villans so far this season.
He has not scored or provided any assist.
Villa paid Barcelona £17 million (Sky Sports) in transfer fees to sign the playmaker on a permanent deal in the summer of 2022.
During his loan spell at Villa from Barcelona in the second half of last season, Coutinho made 16 starts and three substitute appearances in the Premier League.
The Brazilian scored five goals and gave three assists in those matches.
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