KLOPP LOOKING TO RESTORE ANFIELD MAGIC

JURGEN KLOPP is focused on recreating fabled Anfield nights as the Liverpool manager revealed Philippe Coutinho has been absent from Melwood this week. Coutinho, who has angled for a move to Barcelona all month, has been kept away from the club’s training base with an illness ahead of tonight’s Champions League play-off against Hoffenheim, which the Anfield club lead 2-1. Klopp rejected suggestions the pair’s relationship had deteriorated. ‘Phil is a bit sick, so the last few days he was not even at Melwood,’ said Klopp. ‘Emre Can also struggled a little with this, just a cold. He was back in training today but Phil was not because the risk of spreading was too big.’ Asked if he would welcome the Brazilian back, Klopp replied: ‘Of course. You asked is everything okay between us? I answer with of course. Yes, 100 per cent.’ Coutinho’s situation was not eclipsing Liverpool’s preparations ahead of a night their manager happily labelled a final. Klopp claimed he was not heading for bed with dread last night and implored his stars to embrace the occasion, as many of them did against Borussia Dortmund here in that Europa League quarter-final just 16 months ago. ‘In life, it doesn’t make a lot of sense that if you have a big chance you think about the consequences if you lose it,’ he added. ‘In finals, you go for it and try your best. Is it good to be in a final? Yes. Is it good to lose it? No. ‘I will not think about this when I am at home in my bed and thinking about the game. I am not going to say to the players: “Oh think about what will happen if we don’t do it”. ‘I know it is a legend of Anfield on European nights. Everyone needs to do their job. I hope we show the world what we are able to do.’