Philippe Coutinho sends Steven Gerrard clear Aston Villa message ahead of Leeds clash

When Aston Villa signed Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona, the main issue many had with the signing was whether or not he'd be able to reach the heights he played at the last time he graced the Premier League.

Some of these worries were laid to rest recently, and Villa fans woke up on Wednesday to a stunning effort from their Brazilian maestro from long range and an influential performance to go with it.

Brazil looked bright from the start of their 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Paraguay, with Leeds United's Raphinha having a goal disallowed in just the third minute for handball.

They dominated proceedings and recorded 77% possession in the fixture, which shows what Coutinho can do in a side that dominates the ball.

He recorded 52 passes with an accuracy of 94.5%, one key pass, six long balls with a 100% accuracy, four shots on goal, seven duels won and one big chance created for his teammates. He was influential throughout, linking up well with Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior down the left side, whilst Raphinha posed an equally dangerous threat down the right.

His performance was then rewarded in the 62nd minute as Coutinho cut in from the left wing and fired a stunning effort into the top corner. It was reminiscent of the player that earned a £142million move to Barcelona, an emphatic finish that also oozed quality.

If Coutinho can replicate these types of performances and continue to gain fitness in the process, his influence and impact on Villa in the second half of the season could be monumental.

Coutinho sent a clear message to the Premier League, Steven Gerrard and all Villa fans with this performance. He's back and ready to showcase his talents on a regular basis at the highest level.

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