As he walked around the Villa Park pitch following his substitution, Philippe Coutinho was given the kind of reception usually reserved for a club’s greatest players.

The Brazilian, brought to Aston Villa on loan from Barcelona by his former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard, was applauded and serenaded as he returned to the bench, and responded by blowing kisses to the supporters.
Coutinho, remember, has been at Villa for only seven matches, claiming three goals and three assists in that time. Most players are not treated like this even after seven seasons.