Coutinho praises strike pair

Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho has heaped praise on Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge while discussing the Reds ‘excellent’ team, Sky Sports understands.

Suarez joined Sturridge on eight top-flight goals so far this season with his brace against Fulham at the weekend and the pair currently lead the Premier League scoring chart along with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.

Coutinho, who returned to the Reds starting line-up for the first time in six weeks in Saturday’s win, will be tasked with supplying both forwards as the team look to continue their impressive start to the season once the international break is out of the way.

Their next game is the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park a week on Saturday, where victory will see Brendan Rodgers’ men reclaim top spot in the division.

Meanwhile, Sturridge and Steven Gerrard are both injury doubts for England’s forthcoming friendly against Chile.

Gerrard was substituted in the second half at Anfield at the weekend with a rib injury, while his club and international teammate has a foot problem.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is set to wear the captain’s armband for Roy Hodgson’s side if the Reds skipper is unable to win his 108th cap at Wembley on Friday evening.