Coutinho: Our attacking was 'virtually perfect' against Leicester

The No.10 saw much of last Saturday’s 4-1 demolition of the Premier League champions at the newly-expanded Anfield from the bench following his exertions during the international break.

Coutinho watched on as first-half strikes from Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane put the hosts in charge, before Adam Lallana restored their two-goal cushion with an unstoppable drive into the top corner after Jamie Vardy had pulled one back for the Foxes.

Jürgen Klopp introduced Coutinho in the 76th minute and Firmino rounded off a hugely impressive victory with his second of the game late on. 

Of course, the 24-year-old is ordinarily at the heart of things on the pitch for the Reds - but he liked what he saw from his teammates from the sidelines.

“It was an excellent game, an excellent performance by the team,” Coutinho told Liverpoolfc.com.

“Everyone played very well, we did what the manager asked us to do. Everyone was very committed from the outset and we got a great result against a great team.

“It was a great game, attacking we were virtually perfect, so it was a great game that gives us confidence.”

The win over Leicester means Liverpool have taken seven points from their opening four games of the Premier League season, the first three of which were played away from home while the finishing touches were put to Anfield’s new Main Stand.

Coutinho’s brilliant brace inspired a thrilling opening-day victory at Arsenal, before Klopp’s team lost at Burnley and claimed a 1-1 draw from their trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

Another tricky assignment in London awaits at Stamford Bridge this week, but Coutinho thinks the Reds’ start to 2016-17 offers plenty of reasons to believe they can enjoy a successful campaign.

“We’re on the right track, we’ve started the season well,” he added.

“Of course we’ve dropped points, but the competition is very long [and] we’ve beaten teams that, theoretically, will be up there fighting for the title, so that boosts our confidence, and the fans’ confidence. That’s very important.”

Coutinho's Premier League stats this season

Mane continued his impressive start to life as a Liverpool player with another excellent display against Leicester, and speaking post-match the Senegal forward paid tribute to Coutinho and his teammates for making his transition into Klopp’s side feel seamless.

Coutinho, meanwhile, is enjoying playing with the former Southampton man and praised his contribution to picking apart the Foxes.

Asked what Mane has added to the team, the Brazil international replied: “A lot, he’s a fantastic player.

“He’s very quick, he’s got very good feet, so that helps us to create a lot of chances to score - not just him but as we saw in the game, Daniel [Sturridge], Firmino, Lallana up there too.”

Mane’s pace and direct running have given Liverpool a new attacking dimension this season, and Coutinho is pleased with the variety of options at Klopp’s disposal. 

“The manager has a lot of options to choose from,” he said.

“Everyone’s been working hard in training, so for sure, it’s good for the manager to have options to choose from, and it’s good for Liverpool.”