Klopp's still a big Phil fan
JURGEN KLOPP insists he will welcome Philippe Coutinho back into Liverpool’s first team with open arms despite the playmaker’s bid to force through a move to Barcelona. Liverpool remain adamant there is no chance of the Spaniards buying Coutinho. Barca have made three bids for the Brazil ace this summer, the latest an offer of £119m, and all have been rejected. Coutinho has not played in any of Liverpool’s games this season, with the club citing a back injury as the reason for his absence. He will not feature in tonight’s Champions League play-off second leg against Hoffenheim either as he now has a virus according to Klopp. The Liverpool boss has given no date for a Coutinho comeback. But when asked if he would welcome him back he said: “Yes, of
course, absolutely, 100 per cent.” And he also said the transfer saga has not affected his relationship with the playmaker.
“Why do you ask if everything is OK between me and him?” Klopp said. That was the question right? It is, indeed, absolutely – 100 per cent.”
Liverpool said his players will put aside the transfer talk around Coutinho as they bid to see off Hoffenheim tonight and secure a place in tomorrow’s draw for the Champions League group stages.
He said: “That is what I expect from us. That is how we have to handle injuries and the other things.
“If you suffer too much then you have to get back on track and that is what we did. I am fine with things so far. We have to make the next step.
“The big difference between the first leg last week and now is that everybody knows how strong Hoffenheim are. We have a good result from the first leg, not a perfect result but a good one.
“With the power of Anfield we have to put it to bed.
“I don’t know how long Phil will be out for. He is a bit sick, so for the last few days he was not even at Melwood.
“Emre Can also struggled a little with this, just a cold.
“He was back training today but Phil was not back because the risk of spreading it was too big.”