Coutinho Credits "Quality Training" for Run of Form

The Reds may have melted down and lost from a winning position last weekend, putting and end to their fifteen-game unbeaten streak, but the level of their performances since the Burnley loss in August still sees them firmly in the Champions League places and within striking distance of Chelsea in first. In a bid to immediately bounce back and rediscover that form, manager Jürgen Klopp has taken his healthy first team players on a training camp to Barcelona this week, leaving behind only yutes and wounded warriors.

One of the latter is LFC player of the year and future Colgate spokesperson Philippe Coutinho, who missed the weekend's clash due to an ankle injury suffered against Sunderland a week ago. The pug authority has been in scintillating form this season, notching six goals and six assists in little over a thousand minutes, striking up an inspiring understanding with fellow attackers, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané and Adam Lallana.

The movement, interplay and penetration present in the attacking band is what has separated this Liverpool side from seasons past, and Coutinho think she knows where the attacking verve is coming from:

"Confidence is a huge factor out on the pitch," the fan favourite told FourFourTwo in an interview.

"I think it comes through repeated quality training, which gives you belief in your ability as well as the confidence to transfer your work from the training ground onto the pitch.

"If we get only two or three chances in 90 minutes, you need to be confident that you will make the right decision in the final third and then put the ball in the back of the net.

"I don’t think there is a secret," he continued. "You just have to practice making these decisions a lot.

"Attacking midfielders need to play with happiness. By that I mean dribbling at pace and making things happen. If you repeat that every day, then you will tap into the perfect mental state to be creative."

The Brazilian magician will be hoping his team remain as confident in their own abilities until he returns from injury next year, as they have been with him in the side, and that he can make his homecoming with the Reds still in the title race.