Ahead of last weekend's game, Southampton were already unbeaten in six games against Aston Villa. After an unshakable start to the season, the Saints regained form and went on a seven-round unbeaten run before visiting Villa Park. Villa, meanwhile, have failed to celebrate victory in front of their fans in their last four home games. It seemed that everything was directed towards the saints taking victory. However, if there was a script, Vera would choose to read it, throw it in the trash, and choose to rewrite a complete copy. The Saints conceded as many goals against Villa as they had conceded in their previous five league games, with Gerrard's side hitting the South Coast side 4-0. The Saints, despite getting more attacking opportunities, were nowhere near The Villa's efficiency near the penalty area, with nine of the home team's 14 shots hitting the target.
In this game, Coutinho is still the core of Villa's attack, which is a fait accompli since January this year. As the Brazilian prepared to travel from Barcelona to Birmingham, supporters could barely contain their excitement. Admittedly, Coutinho's huge transfer fee when he joined Barca remained unfulfilled, but the 29-year-old is a world-class attacker, but when he moved to Camp Nou, he chose the wrong time and the wrong place. You only have to look at his loan performances at Bayern Munich in 2019-20 to get a clear picture of Coutinho's prowess, and despite his hard days at Barcelona, he once again proved how effective he is in the right environment. Led by former Liverpool team-mate Gerrard, Coutinho shines again. In fact, of all the Villa players this season, only Ince (9 goals) and Watkins (8 goals) have directly contributed more league goals than Coutinho (6 goals). But don't forget, he's only played seven times.
After Glalis joined Manchester City for a sky-high price, Villa lacked the creativity that the England international brought to the team. Glallish said in February last year: "I've been watching Coutinho's footage at Liverpool – he always delivers the perfect pass he needs for the final shot. "Who could replace the £100 million player better than the player he's observing and trying to emulate?" Sometimes he thinks too fast so I have to start with his body movements, and then sometimes I go the other way! He was too sharp—he thought faster than anyone else. Watkins said of his new Villa team-mate after last weekend's win. However, his new team-mates are clearly keeping pace with the quick-thinking Brazil international. Of all Villa players this season, only Ings (4) has had more assists than Coutinho (3), while the Brazilian has averaged 1.7 key passes per game, the third-best pass stats within Villa.
Apparently, playing in a stable environment benefited Coutinho under a manager who had confidence in Coutinho and, more importantly, six months after the deal was completed, Villa found a player to fill the void left by Glallish, even if temporarily. It is particularly interesting that Coutinho's six direct contributions have all come from home, which is more than other Premier League players in 2022, and he has not contributed more than 7 in any season with Barca. Has he finally found a new place called home? At Barcelona, Coutinho lost a lot of valuable features in his efforts to stay in shape, moving to one of the most recognised teams in the world for the initial £105 million, meaning every mistake was scrutinized. The Catalan giants' reign in La Liga is also coming to an end, and with turbulent times just around the corner, Coutinho could be the scapegoat.
However, in his final 18 months with Liverpool, the Brazilian star's form was unstoppable and he once again showed that level at Villa, where it is predictable that countless scouts were sitting in the stands of Villa Park watching him. Villa would at least have the option to perpetuate the deal for around £33m in the summer, which is what Gerrard wants, but if he continues to shine in midfield, Villa will be at risk of losing him. That is, why did Coutinho go to a new team? His move to Barcelona proved that it was not the best team to be the best suited, and it was only after he went on loan to Bayern that his reputation was restored to some extent. Even so, the German side opposed making the deal permanent, as Barcelona reportedly demanded a €120 million buyout fee. At this stage of his career, Coutinho needs a steady game time, and when he stays healthy, he is undoubtedly the first player on the starting list for Villa Park.
Yes, he can choose to play in the Champions League, but what's the point when he can't even play as often as he did at Villa? He would make the best decision and refuse to become a permanent parallel cargo. For the rest of the season, though, as Coutinho regains his rhythm, supporters can at least sit back and enjoy the charm of samba at Vera Park.