‘Still weeks or months to go’- Klopp hints at Coutinho departure

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Jurgen Klopp insists it is Liverpool’s job to prove their quality and be able perform without the likes of Philippe Coutinho.

The German was treated to a devastating attacking display from his side on Sunday as the Reds surged to a 4-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Coutinho was unsurprisingly centre stage, opening the scoring with a sublime solo goal in the 20th minute as well as assisting Roberto Firmino for Liverpool’s fourth.

Klopp was inevitably asked about the No.10’s future after the game, with Barcelona expected to reignite their efforts to sign the playmaker when the January transfer window opens.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Klopp said: “For me one game is not interesting. It’s interesting now but my judgement about Phil is already done since I am in,” as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

“He’s a fantastic player. But the job of Liverpool is to play without Phil Coutinho, to play without Sadio Mane, to play without Mohamed Salah, to play without, without, without.”

“That makes the quality of the squad. Today he was here thank god he was here and could play, played really well and helped us a lot.”

Image by Liverpoolfc.com

“But about the transfer it has nothing to do with that and we have nothing to say, nothing positive and nothing negative, until something happens.”

“But that’s still a few weeks or months to go.”

Coutinho was in typically sparkling form as he accompanied the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in inflicting a miserable afternoon for Eddie Howe’s side.

The 25-year-old himself was also asked about his future after the game, to which Man of the Match Oxlade-Chamberlain stepped in and labelled the question as ‘unfair’.

Klopp admitting to there being a ‘few weeks or months’ could potentially be perceived as the manager acknowledging that Coutinho will eventually depart.

That said, owners Fenway Sports Group have demonstrated little to suggest they will be prepared to shift from their insistence that Coutinho is not for sale this season.

Performances like that of Sunday serve as a reminder of why this club must keep hold of him until the end of the season at least.

He remains very much at the heart of Liverpool’s fight for a top four finish.

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