Securing ten wins out of their last thirteen outings, there’s no question that Liverpool’s season has done an about face since losing to Manchester United back in December, but as they prepare to square off against their old rivals in the return fixture no one is about to discount the danger they pose.
“It’s a really important game for us, and a tough one. They’re a good team with great history and I know this is a massive derby. Both teams are fighting for the same thing in the Premier League. It’s going to be a critical game and one we would call a ‘six-pointer game’ in Brazil,” explained the 22-year old ahead of tomorrow’s clash. “I’m sure it’ll be a hard-fought derby and I hope we can be the winners. No fan wants to lose this game, which I see as one of the world’s greatest fixtures.”
While the media is declaring this a virtual top-four decider, Coutinho, understandably, has remained far more pragmatic. Although victory tomorrow would certainly go a long way towards boosting the Reds top four credentials, meetings with Arsenal, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Crystal Palace are just a few of the hurdles they’ll have to navigate before the points are tallied-up, making it pretty obvious that tomorrow’s match won’t be the end-all-be-all for anyone.
“There are still quite a few games to be played and we need to be winning as many as possible to achieve our objective. All remaining matches have to be treated equally as they’ll be decisive for our season. We want to be in the top four and qualify for the Champions League next season” he continued. “We know we will stand a good chance if we win this vital game. It’s always a hard-fought encounter for the great players both clubs have and for their history. It’s a crucial game for us and everybody is looking forward to it.”
