- Klopp says Liverpool are ‘good without Phil’ when asked if he’ll stay
- Coutinho mesmerises in Champions League against Spartak Moscow
- SEE MORE: (Video🎥) Coutinho’s highlights v Spartak; Arguably his greatest ever LFC performance
We don’t want to take any shine off what was a brilliant Anfield evening, but the signs emanating from the manager are not good when it comes to Coutinho’s future.
The Brazilian magician has been spellbinding this season and scored a hat-trick against Spartak Moscow last night; Man of the Match in a 7-0 pummelling that sent Liverpool into the Champions League Last 16.
But when Klopp was directly asked if Liverpool would keep Coutinho in January, his first response was to suggest we’re still a good side without him.
That’s pretty damning, isn’t it?
“We play outstandingly good football without Phil, to be honest,” he began. “Although I love this player. As a team you should never rely on one player, if he’s out you don’t know what to do. So, nothing to say – but he was really good tonight.”
You can watch his comments, here:
Jurgen Klopp used Google to select his @LFC captain tonight 👍
Watch all the @ChampionsLeague highlights on @ITV now. pic.twitter.com/ptzZN4Xd3C
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 6, 2017
We’d love nothing more than for Coutinho to stay at Liverpool for the rest of his career, but it’s clear our no.10 has his heart set on pastures new.
He barely cracked a smile last night, even after his third goal went in in front of the Kop. For a Liverpool captain to score a crucial treble and not show some emotion? It worries us.
It’s not affecting his performances of course; on the pitch, he’s been nothing short of world-class since regaining full fitness.
But we just wish he wanted us as much as we want him!
Still, his current form means it’ll require Barcelona breaking Neymar’s €200m world to acquire him. We’d still rather he stayed, though.