• Premier League

Enrique: Coutinho can emulate Suarez

Philippe Coutinho is ready to follow in the footsteps of Luis Suarez and take the Premier League by storm next season, his Liverpool team-mate Jose Enrique claims.

Coutinho, 20, has two goals and three assists to his name since arriving at Anfield from Inter Milan for £8.5 million in January.

Like the Brazilian playmaker, Suarez was a mid-season signing - arriving from Ajax for £22.8 million in 2011 - and spent his first few months acclimatising to life in England.

The Uruguay international has since hit his stride and leads this season's Premier League scoring chart with 22 goals, one ahead of Manchester United's Robin van Persie.

And Enrique, 27, believes Coutinho can become just as important to Liverpool, telling the Liverpool Daily Post: "Luis had a really good year after just six months here before.

"Now you can see the real Luis, with how many goals he scores. With Coutinho, it's going to happen the same, I think.

"You can see how well he is doing, but I think he's going to improve a lot more. If he improves after what he has been doing already, he is going to be a top player for us."

Coutinho has featured regularly in a left-sided attacking role in front of Enrique, who feels that the combination is working well.

The defender added: "It's easy to play with good players. Everyone says sometimes me and Luis link well - I think Luis is a top player, and it's easy to link well with him.

"With Coutinho, it's the same thing. He's a very good player. You can see he has amazing talent, and he's still really young."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.