Neymar injury allows Coutinho to shine on left

Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho is poised to start in his preferred position on the left side of midfield when Brazil travel to Venezuela for their next World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Coutinho impressed on the right in Brazil's 5-0 rout of Bolivia on Thursday, scoring one goal and setting up another after replacing Chelsea's Willian in the starting lineup.

But the suspension of Neymar has left a vacancy on the left and Coutinho admitted he would relish the chance to play in his favorite position.

"It [the left] is where I play for my club and I'm used to it," Coutinho told a news conference on Saturday. "If I'm chosen to play there obviously I'm going to feel at ease.

"Neymar is a star. He is somebody who decides games so we are going to miss him. But we have a great group and whoever replaces him is going to be well qualified. We have to share the responsibility between all off us."

Willian is expected to be reinstated on the right of midfield while Guangzhou Evergrande's Paulinho is likely to return from suspension to take Giuliano's place in central midfield.

Brazil are currently second in the 10-team South American zone standings with 18 points, a point behind leaders Uruguay at the halfway point of the qualifying campaign. Venezuela are last with just two points from nine matches. Endit