One year on, Coutinho struggling to justify record move to Barca

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group B - Tottenham Hotspur v FC Barcelona - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 3, 2018 Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Eddie Keogh/File Photo

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona shelled out a club record 160 million euros (£143.7 million) to prise Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, yet one year on from his signing, the Brazilian is struggling to get a game while his former side are thriving in his absence.

Coutinho, the third most expensive player in the world behind Paris St Germain's Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, made a flying start to his Barcelona career with 10 goals in his first five months, giving the team a more direct outlet in midfield and an extra threat with his impressive long-range shooting.