Liverpool news: Philippe Coutinho not good enough for Barcelona yet - Rio Ferdinand
LIVERPOOL star Philippe Coutinho must improve his goalscoring record to be recognised as one of the best players in the world, according to pundit Rio Ferdinand.
Philippe Coutinho stuns fans with 15-minute cameo for Brazil
Coutinho was linked with a move away from Liverpool in the summer, with Barcelona making three bids for him.
The Spanish giants saw all their offers rebuffed by the Merseyside club, despite the Brazilian handing in a transfer request.
Former Reds striker Michael Owen says Coutinho will never be prolific in front of goal but says he makes up with it in other areas.
“This little fella is a wizard,” Owen said on BT Sport.
BT SPORT
Liverpool news: Philippe Coutinho is not good enough for Barcelona yet, says Ferdinand
If you’re going to go for £150-160million you expect him to be getting 25-30 goals a season
Rio Ferdinand on Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho
“I think this is his favoured finish, when he just cuts inside off that left-hand side onto his right foot.
“He sells dummies, he’s got great vision, he can obviously score lots of goals.
"He’s not prolific, you can’t see him scoring 20 a season let’s say.
“But he will chip in, he will get double figures, he will assist as well.”
BT SPORT
Liverpool news: Philippe Coutinho needs to score 25-30 goals a season, says Ferdinand
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Manchester United legend Ferdinand disagreed and says for Philippe Coutinho to be worth the transfer fees being touted, he needs to score over 25 goals a season.
“If he is to elevate himself into that top-tier of player, he needs to be scoring more goals than he’s doing now,” Ferdinand said of the Liverpool man.
“If you’re going to go for £150-160million which is what they’re talking about as the package, you expect him in that position, No 10, coming in from the left, to be getting 25-30 goals a season.
“That’s going to be the task he is going to have to get to this season.”
Coutinho made it two goals for the season when he netted in the first half of Liverpool's Champions League clash at Spartak Moscow tonight.
