‘NO NEED TO SELL PHIL’

do not need to cash in on their playmaker to fund a record £75m outlay for Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk.

“No,” said Klopp. “Nobody told me that. We have a good player and don’t have to sell anybody because of that.

“So fair play to our club’s owners that they are ambitious.” Klopp is keen to avoid a return to the low of the summer when Coutinho submitted a transfer request in a bid to force through the move and he praised the 25-year-old for his attitude.

Klopp has made Coutinho captain in the absence of the injured Jordan Henderson, and added: “I was really happy about the last few performances and about his impact.

“He showed his character in the games and in the training sessions. That was spot on. It was really good.

“That is what I’m interested in because all the rest I can’t, and don’t want to talk about.”