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Brenan Rodgers warns rivals about "magic" Philippe Coutinho

:Headline: Brenan Rodgers warns rivals about 'magic' Philippe Coutinho: ID:200905: from db_amp
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is enthused that playmaker Philippe Coutinho has finally rediscovered his "magic" of last season.

Brendan Rodgers has warned Liverpool's top-four rivals that Philippe Coutinho is rediscovering the "magic" that helped them to the brink of a Premier League title last season.

The Brazilian playmaker struggled to adapt in the absence of Luis Suarez - who was sold to Barcelona - and the injured Daniel Sturridge at the start of the 2014-15 campaign.

The trio played a key role as the Reds finished agonisingly close to a first league title in 24 years last term, ultimately finishing behind champions Manchester City by a point.

Coutinho looked to dovetail well with Raheem Sterling in Tuesday's League Cup draw against Chelsea, and Rodgers hopes that the 22-year-old continues to dazzle as Liverpool target another top-four finish.

"He was outstanding the other night," he told reporters. "He is that bit of magic who makes that last pass in the final third.

"Last year he had Suarez and Sturridge to make those passes to but he hasn't had that. Up until six or seven weeks ago he didn't have that ability to make the threaded pass through.

"Once we had that bit of mobility and speed and movement at the top end of the field – and the others around him – that has really helped him. He is a class act and still has so much development left to make and he is playing very well."

Rodgers's side, who face Bolton Wanderers in an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Anfield this evening, sit eighth in the table, five points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
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