Klopp on a mission to restore the magic

...but Liverpool must do it without ‘sick’ Coutinho

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.

Klopp rejected suggestions the pair’s relationship had deteriorated and claimed Coutinho — also said to be nursing a back problem — would be straight back in contention once he was ready to return. ‘Phil is a bit sick so the last few days he was not even at Melwood,’ Klopp said. ‘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 was too big.’

asked if he would welcome the Brazilian back, Klopp replied: ‘Of course. You asked is everything OK between us? I answered with of course. Yes, 100 per cent.’

Coutinho’s situation was not overshadowing 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 quarterfinal 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 said. ‘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”. there are enough people around who think like this.

‘I know it is a legend of anfield on European nights, they are really special. Everyone who wants this needs to do their job. I hope we will show the world what we are able to do.

‘We improved already from the Watford game. the big difference between the game last week and now is that everybody knows how strong the opponent is.

‘Usually people in England think you get fourth place and you are automatically through but this year it is different. It (progressing) would be a statement.’

similar forcefulness emanated from Julian Nagelsmann. although a goal down from last week’s first leg, the Hoffenheim boss fancies his side to cause a shock.

the 30-year-old is no stranger to anfield having been here for a 2-1 win over Newcastle back in 2014.

the surroundings are nothing new and he confidently proclaimed the allure of this club is not prey- ing on his mind ahead of the biggest night of a short managerial career.

‘I’m not in awe,’ Nagelsmann said firmly. ‘We are good enough not to have to hide here. We know this is a great club with a great history, but my feeling is excitement.

‘there will be a surprise because I don’t think everyone is betting on us. But we have belief that we can do it. Liverpool know they’re not going to need an early goal.

‘they are going to play by waiting a bit to see how stable we are. We are going to try to take the lead and if we do that’s going to change Liverpool. their fans are going to cheer them on to be more positive.’