Barça rubbing hands together at Coutinho's Aston Villa form

Philippe Coutinho is smiling in the Premier League again. The Brazilian joined Aston Villa in January and has quickly adapted. In his first game, he showed he wanted to be the player that dazzled in England with Liverpool and week after week he's showing that, if he's not there yet, he's getting close to his best form.

On Saturday, Villa welcomed Southampton, who are also having a good season, but Steven Gerrard's side brushed them aside, winning 4-0, inspired by Coutinho.

Coutinho, on loan from Barcelona, showed signs of his quality with a brilliant assist for the second goal, playing a one-two before laying the ball on a player for Douglas Luiz to stroke home.

It was more of the same at the start of the second half. He collected the ball and scored the third as Villa ran away with the game.

Barça rubbing their hands

Coutinho's performances have gone down well at Villa but also back at Barça, who hope the Premier League club will pay €40m to make the deal permanent in the summer. It would be an important sale for Barça and also help reduce their wage bill.