Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
A MAJOR ISSUE FOR MCILROY?
ALL KICKING OFF IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE
PHILIPPE COUTINHO could miss the start of the season – further ramping up speculation about his Liverpool future.
Barcelona are keeping up their interest in the playmaker, who missed training again with a back problem, which has sidelined him for a week.
Boss Jurgen Klopp will not select him for the match against Watford if
you even more motivation,” he explained. “I’m not sure whether I will get an opportunity to play in the first game at Watford, but I am hoping to take it if I do get it.
“I will be fighting all week in training for that position, as will all the other lads.”
Klopp may favour youth, but he is a hard taskmaster.
After Alexander-arnold had impressed in pre-season against Bayern Munich, the Kop boss immediately identified areas where he ought to improve.
In fact, he speaks to the teenager all the time. “The main one is defending,” said Alexander-arnold. “First and foremost, I am a defender, so, to try to nail that down, he has been helping me throughout the pre-season.”
It is that grounding which may see him buck the trend for young English players in the Premier League – with a regular first-team place. he has failed to train in the days before the first game.
That leaves the Brazilian with just one session to prove he is ready. Liverpool insist that he is injured.
Coutinho has told Klopp he wants to speak to the Spanish giants, if Liverpool are interested in selling.
Barca submitted an offer a fortnight ago, but that was rejected out of hand.
And, although they are plotting a £100million offer, Klopp is adamant they would be wasting their time.
Barca, who sold Neymar to Paris Saint-germain for a world-record £199million, are also trying to prise Ousmane Dembele out of Borussia Dortmund, but were quoted £135m for him.
If Coutinho misses the trip to Watford, he becomes a doubt for the Champions League visit to Hoffenheim on Tuesday.