SELHURST PARK, LONDON — A cursory glance at the final score and scorers at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening would fail to convey the immense influence Philippe Coutinho had on the game between Crystal Palace and Liverpool.
The Brazilian did not make it on to the scoresheet in south London, but he was overwhelmingly the driving force behind the Reds' impressive 4-2 victory over Palace, which placed them level on points with Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
Coutinho was involved in everything of note for Liverpool as he scurried across the pitch, a bright-green blur against the dark-green grass, linking play, darting into space and ghosting past defenders with ease.