I remember writing a post on the Coutinho thread after his first few games for us, being very positive:
It's so easy to tell the effect of him having played under someone who demands stepping up and taking responsibility. I hope the kraut-brand menace of Klopp will haunt his dreams for a few seasons longer before the complacency inevitably takes hold of him and drags him into a black hole of mate, hugs, kisses and the mellow acquiescence of CL quaterfinal submission.
Not to be a braggy douchebag, but I don't think I've ever been so right in my life. When he first started here, he was playing on the forefoot, always taking reponsibility and initiative, making brave passes, protecting the ball well and inspiring his teammates. It's now clear that that was not an inherent quality of Coutinho but a mentality that had been instilled by the coach he had been playing under. The contrast to his current form is an extraordinarily clear effect of playing under a coach that doesn't push you, doesn't make you run the extra sprint and doesn't inspire you to perform anything beyond your comfort zone.
I really don't care about Coutinho and I'm not here to defend him. He could be sold for all I care. This is about the contrast between a coach that makes his team better and a coach that doesn't.