REBEL WITH A PAUSE
Klopp to leave Coutinho out for City clash despite starring role for Brazil
PHILIPPE COUTINHO will be offered no easy route back into the Liverpool team.
Boss Jurgen Klopp revealed yesterday that his Brazilian midfielder is finally fit to pull on a red shirt again but said it “doesn’t make sense” to throw him into the side to face Manchester City tomorrow lunchtime..
Coutinho, who was desperate to move to Barcelona in the transfer window, angered many Anfield fans by claiming he had a back injury which has kept him out of the Liverpool side this term but which did not stop him playing for Brazil in two World Cup qualifiers during the international break.
Klopp insisted the injury was genuine but is ready to keep Coutinho (right, with Alberto Moreno) waiting for his comeback. “I know what people think but Phil had a back problem and couldn’t train, so that means he missed about three weeks,” said Klopp. “Yes, he went to the national team and trained normally, and we saw him train this morning and thought ‘Okay, maybe we should use him immediately’ because he was really good, but that doesn’t make sense.
“We have to prepare him for a normal season.
“We have to give him time because in the next month we have seven games.”
Reports in Spain suggested Coutinho would refuse to play for the Reds on his return from international duty.
But Klopp killed those rumours stone dead when he revealed the midfielder has returned to Merseyside full of enthusiasm – even if he may have to spend time on the bench in the coming weeks.
“He will now do a little bit more than the other boys but he showed up in a very, very good mood and looks really promising,” he added.
“Roberto Firmino played in the second Brazil game a bit longer but both are fit so that’s cool. They’re healthy but now we have to see.”