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Brendan Rodgers: 'Philippe Coutinho has been key'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that Philippe Coutinho has been key to his side's upturn in fortunes over the past couple of months.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has expressed his belief that Philippe Coutinho has been key to his side's upturn in fortunes over the past couple of months.

The Reds are unbeaten in the Premier League since they lost 3-0 to Manchester United back on December 14, and Rodgers thinks that the Brazilian has played an important part in the improved results.

He told the club's official website: "He has been at a really top level of performance over the last couple of months.

"His pass for the first goal [against West Ham United] was sublime; he was half looking the other way and lifts it over the defender. He has got a lovely weight of pass.

"He needs players to run beyond and that was our problem at the beginning of the season, we had no penetration. We have moved it and put Raheem Sterling through the middle, and for guys like Phil it has a knock-on effect - he can then play passes through."

Coutinho signed from Inter Milan for around £8m back in January 2013.

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A stoic-looking Brendan Rodgers ahead of Liverpool's game with Man City on August 25, 2014
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