Klopp: How Coutinho took the next step in 2016
Giving Philippe Coutinho the chance to play 'more freely' was crucial to the Brazilian's improvement in 2016, according to Jürgen Klopp.
The Liverpool No.10's influence on his side grew throughout the year as he regularly made the decisive impact in games for the Reds, either with a goal of his own or by creating for a teammate.
Coutinho's importance was evident by the disappointment which greeted the news of a five-week lay-off after an ankle injury sustained against Sunderland in late November.
As Klopp waits for an opportunity to select the playmaker again, the manager offered his opinion on why the 24-year-old has risen to another level during the past 12 months.
"In 2016 he has made the next step, for sure," the boss told the Liverpool Echo.
"He has been very consistent. I think our style of play fits really well with him.
"We had a few talks about it. Of course, with Phil's skills, everyone wants to give him the ball and wait for something special to happen.
"Then you think 'Oh no, don't shoot again'. But if I could shoot like he could shoot then I would try it all the time. It's outstanding how good he is.
"When we spoke about it, I told him that he could help us more and we could help him more when we do very simple passing to create better situations and have the opportunity to finish in different kind of ways.
"That's given us a real boost in terms of development. It took a little bit of responsibility off his shoulders so he could play more freely of expectations and pressures. All that stuff. He's made a big, big step."