Coutinho masterclass inspires Aston Villa to crushing win over Southampton

Under other circumstances, it might have seemed the Danny Ings show. Facing Southampton for the first time since his departure, one of their finest goalscorers of the Premier League era struck himself and ended with two assists. Yet, given the elegant brilliance of Philippe Coutinho, even Ings was demoted to the status of a subplot.

When the Brazilian was substituted to a standing ovation, it was both a chance to celebrate his contribution and seemed a case of Steven Gerrard taking mercy on Southampton. An in-form team were hammered. The biggest win of the Gerrard era and Aston Villa’s first at home for three months was inspired by his former Liverpool teammate.

Borrowed from Barcelona, Coutinho looked too good for Southampton. “He showed a level that was above the game at times and showed his form of old,” said Gerrard. “It was a pleasure to be in the stadium. He was the man of the match.”

His afternoon included the goal he merited, his capacity to find space illustrated when he twisted and turned in a packed penalty area before drilling in Villa’s third of the afternoon. It brought an assist, too, with Coutinho’s elusiveness illustrated when he stole in behind the Southampton defence to meet Calum Chambers’ unexpectedly deft ball and tee up Douglas Luiz for a tap-in. “He could have gone for goal,” said Gerrard, praising Coutinho for his unselfishness.

Yet the most remarkable element was the surrounding passage of play: within four minutes Coutinho could have had a hat-trick himself to accompany Luiz’s goal. Fraser Forster made one fine save, while two shots just missed the far post. Ollie Watkins was twice his supplier, returning the favour after Coutinho released him with a defence-splitting pass for another Forster