Roberto Firmino can’t even bear thinking about Coutinho leaving Liverpool this summer.
The two Brazilians are best friends and bar Sadio Mane, arguably our two best players.
Last term, their consistently crucial contributions helped us secure a top four spot, most notably when they came on against Stoke with the team losing and each scored wonder-goals to earn a vital three points.
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But while Firmino is happy on Merseyside, Coutinho is undeniably not – handing in a transfer request the day before the season started after Barcelona turned his head.
Liverpool were firm in their rejection of this request and have reiterated that he’s not for sale, but with two weeks left of the window, nobody is certain what will happen next.
“I prefer to not think of this (Coutinho leaving) because it would be awful. He’s a great player but also a great friend to me,” Firmino told the Echo.
“It is normal that great teams are interested in his football but my concentration is now on the team.
“My objective is to win cups with Liverpool so I can enter the history of this club.
“This season is a special season because it is World Cup season. From childhood, I had the dream to play the World Cup.
“To be selected to the World Cup, I need to have my best season with Liverpool. Tite is a coach who rewards hard work at clubs.”
Lucas has already left this summer, so if Coutinho follows him out of the door, Merseyside may feel like a lonelier place for our effervescent South American forward.
We’re confident though that the club will remain firm and Coutinho will have to reintegrate himself into the squad.
He owes us that much at least.