Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino answered the wishes of not only Jurgen Klopp in yesterday’s 2-1 win over Stoke but also Liverpool’s players and fans when both went on to secure three points for their team having been introduced at half time.
Liverpool’s Brazilians worked in unison in providing some samba magic to help spearhead a remarkable revival after the Reds had entered the interval 1-0 down.
Their almost telepathic understanding looked in full flow as the pair found themselves linking up time and time again and posing as the source of everything Liverpool did well going forward in the second half.
Both reinstalled a sense of fluidity to the side’s attacking play as they continued to go in search of the ball and strived to occupy every area of the pitch. Coutinho’s clinical equaliser marked him playing with responsibility, knowing full well that it was primarily down to him to turn things around. Firmino’s winner was the kind of emphatic and confident strike that similarly recognised him knowing how key he was the the team getting anything from the game.
The pair emerged as leaders in their own right, not for being vocal but for ensuring they controlled proceedings. Two mature and influential in what could prove to be a vital win come the end of the season.
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