DON’T TURN YOUR BACK, COUTINHO
Henderson plea to Liverpool star
JORDAN HENDERSON will try to persuade Philippe Coutinho to turn his back on Barcelona because every Liverpool player “wants him to stay”.
Liverpool will have to play their
crucial Champions League play-off with Hoffenheim without the injured Brazilian midfielder, who has submitted a transfer request.
But Henderson says that won’t affect the Reds tonight – or stop the Kop skipper from trying to talk round his team-mate.
Henderson said: “It’s a difficult situation for Phil and whatever I say won’t help matters...but we want Phil to stay because he’s a world-class player.
“Ask anybody in the team, they want him to stay. As players, when windows are open, things like this happen. Players come and go. You’ve got to accept things like this and focus on what’s important. I don’t think I can influence the situation.. that’s down to Phil and the club.
“But I’m good friends with Phil and I have a lot of respect for him. Of course I’m going to talk to him but those conversations will remain private.”
Henderson is more concerned by what is a daunting clash against a tough Hoffenheim side for a place in the Champions League proper.
He last night insisted nothing will knock his teammates out of their stride, not even Barcelona’s pursuit of their best player.
“The focus won’t be affected at all. The most important thing is tomorrow,” he stated.
“For us the biggest focus is Hoffenheim. We’ll stay together and make sure we take a good result back. We’ve got to take the opportunity.”
we didn’t have last year. I know now people will say, ‘Yes, but who wants to play in the Europa League?’
“We can either allow the pressure on this game to increase over the next 24 hours, to the extent that we cannot walk any more, or we still try to enjoy this opportunity. I think that is the best way to do it.”
Liverpool are without Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana, as well as Coutinho, but Klopp explained Sturridge is fit again and will return for the weekend visit to Anfield of Crystal Palace.