Liverpool: Philippe Coutinho blames tactics and implementation for loss against Arsenal

Philippe Coutinho believes that the main reason behind their 4-1 loss to Arsenal was more down to tactics and implementation than a difference in quality between the two sides.

The Gunners rode on the back of four quality goals by Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud to reverse the 5-1 thrashing at Anfield they received last season. Coutinho, who has had a brilliant season thus far, failed to get into the thick of things and was left a forlorn figure as the Gunners tore through the Liverpool backline, which was missing Martin Skrtel through suspension.

Kolo Toure had a nightmare in defence, while Simon Mignolet could have done more for the second and third goals, where he was beaten in the near post.

Liverpool's only chance came in the 19th minute when Lazar Markovic found himself one on one with David Ospina but decided to pass the ball to Raheem Sterling, who failed to get on the end of it with the goal wide open.

Coutinho believes their failure to press the ball, like they did at Anfield in the reverse fixture, was the difference between the two sides, with the Gunners not giving Liverpool any time on the ball, which led to mistakes.

"Arsenal played very well, as they always do, and we did not do the things we have to do to win, the things we have done in previous games, like pressing the ball well," Coutinho told Liverpool's official website.

"That was the difference between the two sides. It was a very difficult game but we have to pick our heads up and keep believing. We have to keep going. We have more games to come and lots of things can still happen.

"Winning the cup would save our season. It is very important for us to have that as an objective.

"We have to pick ourselves up after what happened against Arsenal to get the results that we need. We want to be in the Champions League. That is our primary objective. We have seven games left and we have to see what happens," he added.