EPL: Coutinho scores on Liverpool debut to crush Swansea

Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho scored on his first start for Liverpool who leapfrogged SwanseaCity into seventh place in the Premier League by crushing the below-strength Welsh side 5-0 at Anfield on Sunday.

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup rested a host of regular starters with next weekend’s Capital One (League) Cup final against fourth-tier BradfordCity in mind, a decision which spectacularly backfired.

Steven Gerrard’s penalty on 34 minutes set Liverpool on their way, the midfielder making no mistake having had a spot-kick saved in the home defeat by West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

Coutinho, who joined last month from Inter Milan on a long-term contract, ran at the Swansea defence and beat keeper Michel Vorm soon after the restart to make it 2-0 as Liverpool quickly settled the game in a rampant spell.

Coutinho was also involved in the build-up in Liverpool’s third goal four minutes later, linking up with Luis Suarez before Daniel Sturridge crossed for Jose Enrique to prod in.

Suarez hit a fourth on 56 after twisting and turning in the area before Sturridge made it 5-0 with a second penalty.

It was Liverpool’s first victory over a team in the top half of the Premier League this season and a first for manager Brendan Rodgers over his former side.

Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images