Coutinho: Missing the PL and reuniting with Gerrard at Villa

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Philippe Coutinho tells Laura Woods how he missed the Premier League and how Steven Gerrard was a big factor in his move to Aston Villa.

The forward joined the Midlands club in January on loan from Barcelona, returning to the Premier League four years after a £142m move from Liverpool.

Coutinho's spell in Spain did not quite work out, but a loan to Bayern Munich in the 2019/20 season saw the Brazil international lift the Champions League trophy, beating Barca on the way to the final.

But Coutinho is now back in England - playing under his former Liverpool team-mate Gerrard - and says he has missed playing in the Premier League.

Speaking to Woods ahead of Aston Villa's trip to Newcastle on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports, Coutinho said: "I really like it here. I missed the Premier League and the people here. They treated me really well and I missed this. It's good to be back here.

"The games here are so intensive so I like that type of game. I have to adapt again, I'm trying my best in training and I'm getting better from the intensity point of view. I think that's the difference that I really like.

"In Spain, it is a different type of game. In Barcelona, normally you would have more time with the ball, more control and those are the different things. I don't want to live in the past, I'm here at a great club and I want to give my best and enjoy my football here.

"The atmosphere in the stadium [Villa Park] is incredible, it's amazing. I really missed the games here in the Premier League because the atmospheres in the stadiums are really intense here.

"The people here, when I meet them in the street, they're really nice and respectful. I really missed this. The weather I didn't