- Coutinho scored 41 goals for Liverpool during his time at Anfield
- Coutinho left Liverpool for Barcelona in 2018 for a massive £142 million fee
- Philippe Coutinho as one of the “best ever”
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has named former Liverpool maestro Philippe Coutinho as one of the greatest players he has ever shared a pitch with, reigniting the debate over the Brazilian’s Anfield legacy.
For five glittering years on Merseyside, Philippe Coutinho was the undisputed “little magician.” His ability to conjure goals from nothing, his trademark long-range curlers into the top corner, and his telepathic understanding with the likes of Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané made him a darling of the Kop.
While his £142m move to Barcelona in 2018 left a bitter taste for some, his pure footballing ability has never been in doubt among his peers.
Now, fellow countryman and Premier League rival Gabriel Jesus has moved to remind the footballing world exactly how gifted the playmaker truly was during his peak.
While on international duty with Brazil, the former Manchester City man was asked by Romario TV to name his best ever teammates. His answer was a nostalgic one for Liverpool fans.
“I’ll name two, Neymar and Philippe Coutinho.”
Gabriel Jesus has shared dressing rooms with some of the Premier League’s finest. Yet for him, the former Liverpool playmaker sits right up there with Brazil’s all-time top scorer.
Coutinho arrived at Liverpool early from Inter Milan and took the Premier League by storm. He shone at Liverpool, being named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2015. Coutinho was also named Liverpool’s fans’ and players’ player of the year in 2015 and 2016. Coutinho played 152 games for Liverpool, scoring 41 goals for the Reds.
The pair spent years together in the Brazilian national team, most notably during the 2018 World Cup cycle, where Coutinho was often the creative heartbeat of a side that relied on his vision to unlock defences
Coutinho magic remembered at Liverpool
Coutinho’s peak at Anfield between 2013 and 2018 was genuinely world-class. The numbers alone tell part of the story. In 2015/16, he bagged ten goals and seven assists across 39 matches. The following season brought 13 goals and seven more assists.
Then came that blistering half-campaign before his Barcelona move, with seven goals and six assists in just 14 outings in the Premier League.
But Liverpool fans know it was never just about numbers. It was the way he drifted past defenders. Those curled finishes into the far corner from the edge of the box. The no-look passes. The kind of magic that made you rewatch a moment just to understand what he’d done.
At Anfield, Coutinho’s exit is often viewed through the lens of what came after the transformative signings of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker funded by his departure. However, before the trophies began to flow under Jurgen Klopp, it was Coutinho who carried the creative burden of the side.
With 54 goals and 43 assists in 201 appearances for the Reds, his statistical output was elite. Yet, it was the manner of his play the “Samba” flair that Gabriel Jesus alludes to that truly set him apart.
| Metric | Liverpool Career Total | Legacy Impact |
| Appearances | 201 | The creative hub of the pre-trophy Klopp era. |
| Goals/Assists | 97 Goal Involvements | Averaged a contribution nearly every other game. |
| Transfer Fee | £8.5m (In) / £142m (Out) | Still Liverpool’s record sale. |
| Peer Verdict | “Among the best ever.” | Validated by Gabriel Jesus and former teammates. |
For Jesus to rank him alongside the likes of Neymar speaks volumes about the level Coutinho reached during his Premier League zenith.
Why Coutinho’s prime belongs among the greats
Think about who Jesus played alongside at Manchester City. Sergio Aguero. Kevin De Bruyne. David Silva. Yaya Toure. Bernardo Silva. Rodri. Premier League royalty, every single one. Yet in Jesus’ mind, Coutinho eclipses them all when it comes to pure talent. He played with him at Brazil and certainly it influences but Coutinho was among the most brightest talents in the world at that moment.
At Arsenal, Bukayo Saka is the standout. For Brazil, Vinicius Junior and Raphinha miss out. That’s how highly Jesus rates the 33-year-old.
Coutinho’s career took a painful turn after leaving Liverpool. The Barcelona move never worked out. Loan spells at Bayern Munich, Aston Villa, and Al-Duhail followed. Just last summer, he returned to Vasco da Gama on a free transfer, only to leave recently, citing fan pressure and mental exhaustion. It’s been a tough watch for the former Liverpool midfielder.
But none of that erases what he was at Anfield. Gabriel Jesus hasn’t forgotten. For Liverpool supporters who watched that slight, gifted Brazilian torment Premier League defences week after week, it’s good to hear his genius acknowledged by someone who actually shared a pitch with him.
