Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho has said that the physical nature of the Premier League is something that he will be able to handle.

The Brazilian, who moved to the Reds from Inter Milan in January, feels that his game will not suffer if he is targeted for heavy tackles from opposition defenders.

"I'm quite calm about getting kicked, I'll get up, carry on playing and score a goal," The Mirror quotes him as saying.

The 20-year-old also revealed that his compatriot and teammate Lucas Leiva spoke to him about joining the club before his arrival.

He added: "Lucas spoke to me, he explained the methods here. I knew Liverpool was a huge team so the decision was made quite quickly on this basis."

Coutinho claimed two assists as Brendan Rodgers's side beat Wigan Athletic 4-0 today.

Written by
Paul Gorst