Philippe Coutinho reveals Klopp training drill that has Liverpool playing so well

Posted Friday, December 09, 2016 by givemesport.com

After last season's eighth-place finish, Liverpool currently find themselves third in the Premier League table and much of that is down to the brilliance of Philippe Coutinho.

Prior to suffering a nasty-looking ankle ligament injury against Sunderland towards the end of last month, the 24-year-old had scored five goals and provided five assists in 13 games and lit up the English top-flight with his vision, creativity, agility, passing and dribbling skills.

Liverpool now seem to have a clear style and identity under Jurgen Klopp and they have produced a fabulous brand of fluid, attacking football which has seen them score more goals (35) than any other Premier League team this term.

Much has been said about Jurgen Klopp's training sessions, with some thinking they are too intense and the main cause of player injuries at Anfield, however Coutinho has offered an insight into the Klopp training methods that have underpinned their rise into title contenders.

The gifted attacking midfielder isn't expected to play again until early 2017, but when speaking to FourFourTwo magazine, he revealed one drill which takes place at Liverpool's Melwood training ground that he feels has been the secret to club's success this season.

KLOPP'S KEY TRAINING DRILLS

"We work really hard on our passing game, because our manager likes this type of playing style," the Brazil international said, via Liverpool Echo.

"Something we practise a lot is playing three short passes and then switching the play with a longer pass. We often repeat that routine.

"One of the reasons we do this is so that the forwards can try to escape their markers and then open up spaces on the pitch very quickly."

HOW HAS COUTINHO IMPROVED HIS OWN GAME?

Liverpool's Player of the Year for the past two seasons also opened up about how training and practising certain things has helped him improve his decision-making and allowed him to be happier out on the pitch.

"Confidence is a huge factor out on the pitch," the talented playmaker explained. "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."

Coutinho added: "I don't think there is a secret - you just have to practise making these decisions a lot. Attacking midfielder 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."