You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Philippe Coutinho admits he’s going into Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Southampton at Anfield on Sunday full of confidence and in top form.

The little Brazilian playmaker lit up the Reds’ emphatic 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in their final warm-up match last weekend.

Coutinho set up the opener with a wonderful flick to Daniel Sturridge and then scored Liverpool’s third with a classy finish.

“It may just have been my best assist,” Coutinho said.

“However, it was just a friendly and I hope I can reproduce it in the league.

“I always try to be confident and stay confident with what I do. Sometimes things don’t go your way but I’m constantly trying to make them right.

“The last match was a friendly and I hope similar things can happen throughout the league season.”

Coutinho’s slick link up play with Raheem Sterling and Sturridge has been a feature of the Reds’ pre-season programme and the 22-year-old says it’s the result of countless hours of hard work on the training ground.

“I’m constantly trying to learn from them and from my other team-mates in training,” he said.

“We try to perfect the combination in training. They are fast players, which makes it easier for us to pass the ball into them, as they’re always running into free space.

“I try to have the most fun I can on the pitch, as playing football is what I like to do most in my life. Hence I’m always looking to have a good time and enjoy the experience.

“All of the team have improved gradually throughout pre-season. The first game was the most difficult as we hadn’t been playing or training for six or seven weeks.

“Overall, it was a good pre-season, we worked hard and I believe we are ready to start the Premier League.”