How Philippe Coutinho compares to one of the best in the business

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We take a closer look at Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho and Manchester City’s David Silva.

Of all the attacking midfielders in the Premier League, Manchester City’s David Silva is one of the very best.

The Spanish international has played 212 games for the Blues, scoring 36 goals and providing 71 assists in that time, and at 29, he is benefitting from years of experience in the game.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho, who at 22 is now beginning to add consistency – and more goal threat – to his game.

We have taken a closer look at the City and Liverpool players’ league form this season, to see where Coutinho is in comparison with a player seven years his senior.

Silva has scored three times as many league goals as Coutinho this season, but in recent weeks the Brazilian has hinted through his performances that his tally could increase relatively quickly from here on.

Coutinho is taking considerably more shots than he used to, as shown by the fact that he has recorded 53 efforts on goal this season compared with 20 less from Silva.

That said, it is clear the City player’s shot-accuracy is considerably better and now the Liverpool man has the confidence to shoot on sight, he must add accuracy to his game.

As is not surprising given their style of play, Liverpool’s play-maker has gone on considerably more dribbles than his City counterpart – 108 compared with just 37 – and perhaps more surprisingly, Coutinho has been dispossessed far less than Silva.

The City star excels in terms of key passes but there is not a huge chasm between the duo, suggesting Liverpool could, in time, have a player every bit as effective as City’s mercurial Spaniard.