Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool should sell Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £130 million next summer and reinvest the funds on a new defence, says Dean Saunders.

The Reds spent much of the most recent transfer window fending off advances from Camp Nou as their Brazilian playmaker became a top target for the Liga giants.

Reds beat Burnley, Firmino FGS – 9/2

Related

• ‘Top heavy Liverpool are going nowhere’ – Hamann slams Klopp’s creation
• Liverpool star Mane reveals shock at red card for Ederson collision
• Klopp denies Liverpool paying price for failure to sign Van Dijk
• Liverpool transfer news: The latest & LIVE player rumours from Anfield

Several offers were knocked back, with Liverpool making it clear that they would not be sanctioning a sale in 2017.

They have already shown that they can cope without Coutinho at the start of the current campaign, but their defensive frailties remain and Saunders believes a big-money departure could actually help the club in the long run – with as many as five fresh faces required at Anfield.

The ex-Reds striker told talkSPORT: “If Liverpool want to win trophies, if they want to get to that next level, they need to improve their defence.

“One way around that would be to sell Coutinho next summer for £130 million and buy three new defenders and a defensive midfield player…and maybe a goalkeeper as well.

“Liverpool’s front three are already brilliant, so I’d take the money for Coutinho and that’s one way you can get the back-four better.

“I wonder if the manager is sitting there this morning thinking, ‘is my back-four good enough to go where I want to go with this team?’

“Would Loris Karius get in Manchester United’s team? Would Joe Gomez? Would Alberto Moreno? Would Joel Matip or Dejan Lovren or Ragnar Klaven?

“Go through the seven best teams in Europe, none of those players are getting in those teams, so as a manager you sit there and think, ‘are they good enough, and if not what can I do about it?’ He could change the way they play to protect them a little bit more, or change the personnel.

“They are not far away, Liverpool. But again, great teams can win games 1-0, and at the moment Liverpool can’t do that against the top teams.”

Liverpool’s latest struggles at the back saw them held to a 2-2 draw at home by Sevilla in the Champions League, with a number of former players having been quick to question Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Dietmar Hamman has suggested that the Reds are “top heavy” and “unbalanced”, while Manchester United legend Roy Keane says the European elite will be “laughing at Liverpool” if they make the latter stages of continental competition.

Let’

Sevilla coach Eduardo Berizzo explained the intriguing logic behind the actions that led to his dismissal in Wednesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Liverpool.

Berizzo had already been warned by referee Danny Makkelie for throwing the ball away in the first half when he did the same again after the break, meaning he was sent to the stands.

But he had his reasons for repeating his actions and he thinks the whole thing can be put down to a misunderstanding.

Related

• Guardiola delighted for two-goal Stones as Manchester City romp in Rotterdam
• I’ll wait for my chance to help Man Utd’s hot streak – Lingard
• ‘It’s a pity’ – Insigne baffled by Napoli’s failings at Shakhtar
• I can be as good with Bakayoko as I was with Matic, insists Kante

“It was two different actions,” he said. “In the first half when we were winning, Liverpool were on the counter-attack and I did something that wasn’t right, I threw the ball away. I was trying to waste time, to stop Liverpool.

“I realise that was a mistake. However, in the second half a similar thing happened when we were losing and I still decided to throw the ball away to try to make up for what I did in the first half.

60′ | Eduardo Berizzo is sent to the stands @LFC 2-1 #SevillaFC #vamosmisevilla #UCL #LFCSFC
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) September 13, 2017

“I was doing the sportsmanlike thing – it was the same action, different context. You could construe both as unsportsmanlike, but I was trying to make up for it.

“I explained that to my counterpart [Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp] and he understood, but the only one who didn’t was the referee.”

Berizzo’s side secured a point at Anfield after Joaquin Correa added to Wissam Ben Yedder’s early opener, which had been eclipsed by goals from Roberto Firmino – who also missed a penalty – and Mohamed Salah.

The 47-year-old was satisfied to secure a share of the spoils against what he considers to be dangerous opponents.

“It’s a good way to start the group stages,” said Berizzo. “We found it tough in the first half. We went ahead, but when we went behind we found it tough. They were very positive, very quick.

“We were struggling either side of our defence to control the speed of their attacks.

“Second half we managed to stop their progress down each side and we were very solid.

“I think the result stands us in good stead for the group stage.”

Let’

Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah scored but Joaquin Correa snatched an equaliser as Sevilla held Liverpool to a draw.

Liverpool’s Champions League group-stage campaign got off to a frustrating start as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Sevilla at Anfield, finishing the match with 10 men.

Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah scored the goals for the home side after Wissam Ben Yedder had given the visitors a surprise early lead, but Joaquin Correa ensured the LaLiga side left with a point.

Philippe Coutinho, heavily linked with a move to Barcelona during the transfer window, made his first appearance of the season at club level as a late substitute but it was not enough to inspire one last turnaround as Joe Gomez was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Correa in second-half stoppage time.

The match was a repeat of the Europa League final of 2016, in which Sevilla came from a goal down to win 3-1, but manager Jurgen Klopp insisted this week Liverpool had grown since that defeat in Basle.

The Reds were certainly the stronger of the teams for the majority and were deservedly heading for three points after Firmino and a fortuitous Salah strike had overturned Ben Yedder’s fifth-minute opener.

Firmino missed a penalty at the end of the first half but Liverpool continued to look the better of the sides, producing a vastly improved performance from the 5-0 Premier League hammering by Manchester City last Saturday.

However, Correa made the most of some slack defending to rescue a share of the spoils for Eduardo Berizzo’s side, who remain unbeaten in 2017-18.

Liverpool fans would have anticipated a typically fast start but it was Sevilla who opened the scoring with only five minutes played.

Some neat interplay between Correa and Sergio Escudero allowed the full-back to find space to the left of the area, and when Dejan Lovren completely missed his attempted clearance, Ben Yedder had a tap-in from less than six yards out.

The Reds came close to a prompt equaliser through Sadio Mane, whose low strike from the edge of the area was well saved by Sergio Rico, before Firmino headed Jordan Henderson’s cross narrowly over.

But Firmino made no mistake in the 21st minute, the Brazilian converting from six yards after former Sevilla man Alberto Moreno’s low cross eluded the defence and Rico at the near post.

The frantic early pace began to drop as each side looked to gain a greater control in possession but, eight minutes before half-time, Liverpool struck again.

Salah, having been fortunate to escape conceding a free-kick for tripping Steven N’Zonzi outside the Sevilla box, saw his low strike take a huge deflection off Simon Kjaer and nestle into the net beyond the helpless Rico.

Firmino had a golden chance to make it 3-1 before the break after Nico Pareja wrestled Mane to ground in the area, but his nonchalant penalty struck the outside of the right-hand post.

1 – Roberto Firmino is the 1st Liverpool player to miss a penalty in the Champions League since Steven Gerrard v Marseille (Dec 2007). Post.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 13, 2017

Liverpool continued to look the more likely to find the fourth and Sevilla’s task became more difficult when Berizzo was sent to the stands for preventing Gomez from taking a quick throw-in.

However, with 18 minutes to play, Sevilla snatched an equaliser with their first shot of the second half. Substitute Luis Muriel fed Correa, who was granted a free path through the Liverpool defence to curl a good finish past Loris Karius from just inside the area.

Klopp immediately introduced Coutinho from the bench to a largely warm reception from the home fans, but the Brazilian could not conjure any late magic to give Liverpool a win.

Indeed, the match finished in tough circumstances for the hosts, who had Gomez sent off for a second yellow card just moments after Muriel missed a great chance to steal all three points.

Let’

Jurgen Klopp kept fans guessing over Philippe Coutinho’s prospects of Champions League involvement for Liverpool against Sevilla, but confirmed Loris Karius will get the nod in goal.

Coutinho was left out of Liverpool’s squad for Saturday’s 5-0 Premier League thrashing at Manchester City, agreeing with manager Klopp that he needed to do work to build his fitness after his absence over the opening weeks of the season.

Back injuries and illness were cited as the reasons for the Brazil international’s absence against the backdrop of a transfer request and a succession of bids from Barcelona that Liverpool rebuffed.

Related

• FIFA 18 player ratings: Alexis & Coutinho amongst top 30 Premier League players
• ‘I didn’t expect anything different’ – Klopp stands by Liverpool’s failed Mane appeal
• Neymar-Mbappe-Cavani send out a Champions League message

Klopp told a pre-match news conference the playmaker is fit to feature at Anfield on Wednesday but refused to venture any further.

“I could give you an idea at this stage,” he said. “But I’m sure Liverpool supporters around the world are ready to wait another 24 hours.

“He is fit, he is healthy. All the information about the line-up you will have to wait until tomorrow. But he is here.”

Klopp was more willing to discuss the goalkeeping position, where Karius will step in for regular first-choice keeper Simon Mignolet.

Klopp: “If nothing happens overnight, Loris Karius will play tomorrow.” pic.twitter.com/L9GnOknGpX
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 12, 2017

“What I can say is, if nothing happens overnight, Loris Karius will play – that’s true,” he said, before adding Mohamed Salah will be assessed after being excused from training on Tuesday due to illness.

“He was in and the doctor told me Mo Salah can train, but what would be best for him is if he doesn’t have to,” he explained.

“He has a little bit of a sore throat. It shouldn’t be that serious [but] he can’t spread the virus if there is one.

“At this moment we expect him back in the morning for normal training.”

Let’

EA Sports have revealed the top-ranking 30 Premier League players in Fifa 18, with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho unsurprisingly making the cut.

---

30. BERNARDO SILVA | Manchester City

---

Having capped off a superb campaign with Monaco by joining Manchester City, Bernardo Silva sees his overall rating increase from 83 to 84.

---

29. DELE ALLI | Tottenham

---

Tottenham wonderkid Dele Alli is up two points from 82 to 84. He was rated at 80 when FIFA 17 was released and will likely continue to rise.

---

28. JUAN MATA | Manchester United

---

The Spanish maestro continues to be a valuable squad member at Old Trafford, despite a number of new signings over the past couple of seasons. 

---

27. CESAR AZPILICUETA | Chelsea

---

Cesar Azpilicueta gets an increase of one overall point on last year, but most notable is his position change from left-back to centre-back following his Premier League title win in Antonio Conte’s 3-5-2 system.

---

26. ILKAY GUNDOGAN | Manchester City

---

Ilkay Gundogan keeps his 85 overall rating for FIFA 18. Stay fit, and he could be a candidate for an increase.

---

25. VINCENT KOMPANY | Manchester City

---

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany comes down from 86 overall to 85. He’ll need to stay fit to boost his rating back up.

---

24. ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE | Arsenal

---

Arsenal’s new striker had all the attributes that made Arsene Wenger splash out over £46m to sign him from Lyon, and his excellent pace, shooting and dribbling stats are sure to make FIFA 18 managers want him too!

---

23. JAN VERTONGHEN | Tottenham

---

After helping Tottenham finish second in the Premier League, Jan Vertonghen has gotten a bump in his rating, moving up two points overall to 85 in FIFA 18.

---

22. HENRIKH MKHITARYAN | Manchester United

---

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s rating remains steady at 85 overall. He was available as an in-form card on a number of occasions last season and if he keeps it up, a permanent rise could follow.

---

21. TOBY ALDERWEIRELD | Tottenham

---

Alderweireld has established himself as one of the top defenders in the Premier League and receives a boost from 85 overall to 86.

---

20. PETR CECH | Arsenal

---

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech receives an 86 rating this season, having kept 12 clean sheets in the 2016-17 Premier League season. Only four goalkeepers had more during the campaign.

---

19. DIEGO COSTA | Chelsea

---

Diego Costa may not be getting gametime at Chelsea, but his 86 overall rating in FIFA 18 as well as a high physical rating of 88 will surely see him included in many Premier League and hybrid squads.

---

18. PHILIPPE COUTINHO | Liverpool

---

Barca were willing to pay huge money for Coutinho but that has not persuaded EA to push his FIFA 17 rating of 86 overall up any further.

---

17. DAVID LUIZ | Chelsea

---

On the back of a superb title-winning season with Chelsea, David Luiz sees his overall rating boosted two points from 84 to 86.

---

16. CESC FABREGAS | Chelsea

---

He may not always be a starter, but Fabregas played an important role in Chelsea’s title triumph and his 86 rating is unchanged.

---

15. HARRY KANE | TOTTENHAM

---

Kane enjoyed a one-point boost in the FIFA 17 ratings refresh and gets another for FIFA 18 to take him up to 86 overall.

---

14. ROMELU LUKAKU | Manchester United

---

New Manchester United striker Lukaku is up two points from 84 to 86 overall after a fine final season for Everton before his big-money transfer.

---

13. DAVID SILVA | Manchester City

---

Manchester City talisman Silva is unchanged at 87 overall and gets increases in his defending and physical ratings having adapted well to a central-midfield role.

---

12. CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN | Tottenham

---

Eriksen has established himself as one of the top playmakers in the Premier League and risen from an 84 rating on FIFA 17 release day to 87 overall as a result.

---

11. N’GOLO KANTE | Chelsea

---

Kante is one of the biggest risers in this year’s ratings. He started FIFA 17 at 81 overall before being pushed to 83, and has now rocketed up to 87 as the reigning Premier League Player of the Year.

---

10. PAUL POGBA | Manchester United

---

Pogba seems to be settling into life back at Manchester United now but actually takes a one-point hit compared to his FIFA 17 rating. He still has five-star skill moves, however.

---

9. ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC | Manchester United

---

Ibrahimovic may have taken a two-point hit on his 90 overall rating on FIFA 17, but he remains one of the top strikers in the game.

---

8. HUGO LLORIS | Tottenham

---

Lloris gets the job done in goal year in, year out for Tottenham and France and retains the 88 overall rating he sported in FIFA 17.

---

7. MESUT OZIL | Arsenal

---

Germany international Ozil is down one point from 89 to 88 overall on the back of another disappointing season for Arsenal.

---

6. ALEXIS SANCHEZ | Arsenal

---

Alexis might not be the happiest man at Arsenal right now, but at least he has a one-point boost on his FIFA score to celebrate this week.

---

5. SERGIO AGUERO | Manchester City

---

Another man who retains the overall rating he sported in FIFA 17 as Kun stays on 89.

---

4. THIBAUT COURTOIS | Chelsea

---

Courtois is in the Premier League’s top two keepers as the Chelsea man continues to enhance his reputation.

---

3. KEVIN DE BRUYNE | Manchester City

---

De Bruyne is another upward mover, improving on the 88 score given to him last time round.

---

2. DAVID DE GEA

---

De Gea was outstanding for United last season, and deservedly holds on to his 90 rating to cement his position as one of the world’s – and FIFA’s – elite keepers.

---

1. EDEN HAZARD | Chelsea

---

Hazard’s one-point upgrade to 90 overall and entry into the top 10 sees him take the title of best player in the Premier League from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

EA SPORTS is revealing all players’ ratings ahead of the release of FIFA 18 on the 29th September. To pre-order your copy, head to: https://www.easports.com/uk/fifa/buy/united-kingdom

Let’

Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho needs to follow the lead of Luis Suarez, rather than Alexis Sanchez, after missing out on a move, says Paul Ince.

The Brazil international spent much of the summer being linked with a big-money transfer to Barcelona, with the La Liga giants making several bids which took them over €100 million.

No deal was done, though, with Barca director Albert Soler later claiming that Liverpool were demanding €200m for the playmaker.

Related

• Ronaldinho reassures Liverpool fans over Coutinho: He’ll give everything
• Klopp: Coutinho could return against Sevilla
• Klopp: No problem with Coutinho as he wanted Barca not Everton
• What next for Coutinho & Liverpool? A lesson from the Luis Suarez saga

Having been forced to stay put, Coutinho now faces the prospect of remaining at Anfield until at least January.

Coutinho 7/1 first goalscorer v Sevilla

Jurgen Klopp is confident the 25-year-old will not down tools and former Reds star Ince is looking for him to take inspiration from Suarez — who eventually secured a move to Barcelona in 2014 — and avoid the negative body language of another want-away star in the form of Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez.

“Philippe has to try to copy Luis the season after he was told he could not leave,” Ince told the Mail on Sunday. 

“One thing about Liverpool fans, as long as Coutinho does things the right way, the fans will still love him.

“They will understand the lure of Barcelona and will not hold it against him, just as long as he does not spend his time moping or show the kind of body language Arsenal fans have occasionally seen from Alexis Sanchez.

“Coutinho does not strike me as that type of player.

“There were a few eyebrows raised at Barca’s £120m valuation and he will have to shine in the Champions League to show he is truly worth that kind of money.”

Suarez had wanted out of Anfield in the summer of 2013, citing excessive media attention following a ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, but Liverpool blocked his path.

The Uruguayan responded by leading a Premier League title challenge which saw him named PFA Player of the Year.

He then got his move after the 2014 World Cup and has gone on to enhance his reputation at Camp Nou.

Arsenal forward Sanchez has already graced that particular stage, but is actively looking for another to impress on in the near future.

His contract at Emirates Stadium is running down, but the Gunners repelled interest from Manchester City during the recent window and then named the Chilean on the bench for their return to Premier League action against Bournemouth on Saturday — with certain sections of the club’s support booing him when he entered the fray.

Let’

Philippe Coutinho could make a timely return to Liverpool’s matchday squad for their midweek Champions League clash with Sevilla, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed.

The wantaway Brazilian is yet to feature in a competitive match for the Reds this season after being denied a move to Barcelona, a saga which prompted Coutinho to submit a transfer request.

Liverpool refused to sanction his departure and Klopp has now confirmed the 25-year-old is in contention to return at Anfield.

Related

• Klopp: No problem with Coutinho as he wanted Barca not Everton
• No Coutinho in Liverpool squad to face Man City
• No Neymar, Verratti or Coutinho, but Barca banking on Dembele to heal transfer troubles
• Klopp reveals ‘really good conversation’ with Coutinho, who is unlikely to play against Man City

Coutinho would be a welcome addition to a side beaten 5-0 by Manchester City on Saturday, a collapse sparked by Sadio Mane’s first-half sending off.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Klopp replied with a simple “yes” when asked whether Coutinho was in his plans for Wednesday’s match.

Read Jürgen Klopp’s post-match verdict on #LFC’s defeat at Manchester City: https://t.co/M2H63TjHQlpic.twitter.com/B3VGQhUTNq
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 9, 2017

Coutinho twice appeared as a substitute for Brazil over the international break, scoring in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Ecuador.

Alongside Sevilla, Liverpool have also been grouped with Spartak Moscow and Maribor for their Champions League campaign.

Let’

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes it would have been difficult for Philippe Coutinho to return to Anfield had he wanted to join a club other than Barcelona… like Everton.

Coutinho was desperate to leave Liverpool for La Liga giants Barca, handing in a transfer request but a move did not eventuate as the Reds reportedly rejected three bids before the transfer window closed.

Man City 9/1 to beat Liverpool 1-0

Related

• Klopp confident of success if Liverpool ‘are smart enough to use quality’
• Man City captain Kompany ruled out of Liverpool clash
• Liverpool’s Mane named Premier League Player of the Month

The 25-year-old – yet to make an appearance for Klopp’s men this season – is back at Liverpool following two appearances for Brazil during the international break, though he has been left out of the squad for Saturday’s trip to Manchester City.

And Klopp is confident there will be no problem reintegrating Coutinho as he did not seek a move to Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals.

“Do I think that somebody could have [a complaint]? Most of them are friends for many years,” he said. “100 per cent if a club like Barcelona is around then nobody says: ‘Are you crazy, what do you want to go there for?’

“Everyone has this little bit of understanding and thinks ‘OK it’s Barcelona’ and it is not that he wants to go to Everton. Then it would have been different I would say. Another wonderful club but a different situation.

“[The rest of the squad] know him. He wasn’t in for three, now four weeks with the international break, that is nothing. They are really good friends. They understand it a bit. They probably wished it could have been different, but now it is not anything.”

Let’

The outcome of Barcelona’s season will depend much upon Ousmane Dembele. After the Catalan club missed out on Marco Verratti and Philippe Coutinho this summer, while Neymar departed for Paris Saint-Germain, the Blaugrana are banking on the €105 million signing from Borussia Dortmund to deliver.

Following Neymar’s shock €222m move to PSG, Dembele was supposed to be the first piece of a new jigsaw as technical secretary Robert Fernandez promised at least two new arrivals going into the last week of the transfer window.

But there were no further additions as Barca bizarrely pulled the plug on a deal for Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri at the last minute, were never close to Liverpool’s valuation for Coutinho and even missed out on Angel Di Maria in the final few hours before the deadline on September 1.

Related

• ‘We didn’t let Barcelona screw us with Dembele’ – Dortmund president Rauball reacts to €105m deal
• Mbappe: I told Dembele to join Barcelona
• Klopp reveals ‘really good conversation’ with Coutinho, who is unlikely to play against Man City
• Hamsik leaves transfer door open for Man Utd and Barcelona

Four new players were brought in prior to that. Right-back Nelson Semedo arrived from Benfica, winger Gerard Deulofeu returned from Everton in a buy-back deal, midfielder Paulinho was signed from Guangzhou Evergrande and Dembele joined from Dortmund.

So now Barca will have to work with what they have. Many of their top targets, including PSG’s Marco Verratti and also Coutinho, were out of reach in the end and it remains to be seen whether the Catalans will be stronger or weaker following Neymar’s exit.

What is clear is that, for the Blaugrana to have any hope of winning La Liga and the Champions League, the new signings will need to impress. And that has not been the case too often over the past few seasons.

Of all the new arrivals in the 2015 and 2016 windows, only Samuel Umtiti has really shone and that is partly why Barca have fallen gradually into decline over the past two years, crashing out of the Champions League in the last eight twice in a row in that time.

Deulofeu has been hit and miss so far since his return, although the winger is obviously a talented player and will be expected to step up under Ernesto Valverde. Semedo, meanwhile, has looked bright in his appearances.

Paulinho was a late substitute in the 2-0 win at Alaves prior to the international break, but could feature as a starter against Espanyol with Ivan Rakitic doubtful. And even though there was pessimism surrounding his signing, Catalan daily Sport this week called the 29-year-old “Valverde’s secret weapon” in a front-page spread, claiming the Barca boss will use the player’s work-rate to help get the best out of his team-mates.

Time will tell, but it is fair to say much more is expected of Dembele, with many fans extremely excited about seeing the young France forward line up alongside Messi and Luis Suarez.

“Semedo is young, with a bright future ahead,” president Josep Maria Bartomeu said in an interview this week. “Paulinho will help make us stronger in midfield and we have a lot of faith placed in Deulofeu.” And he added, “Dembele was the player chosen to replace Neymar and he will make us more competitive. We would have liked to have brought in Coutinho to strengthen the midfield and the attack, but the team is sufficiently good and very competitive. It’s a team that will aspire to win all the trophies.”

Bartomeu, who faced calls for his resignation during Dembele’s presentation late last month, will hope that is the case. But tactically, Valverde will need to make it work and there is more now resting on the French forward than on any 20-year-old at Barca since Messi back in 2007.

It is a signing that simply has to work out and if it does not, this is unlikely to be a happy season for the Catalan club. Good luck, Ousmane!

Let’

Philippe Coutinho has been left out of the Liverpool squad for Saturday’s Premier League match at Manchester City, manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed.

Reds 28/1 to win 3-2

Coutinho’s future dominated the closing weeks of the transfer window after he handed in a request to force through a move to Barcelona, but Liverpool stood firm and rejected three bids for the Brazil playmaker – the last of which was understood to be worth in the region of £119m.

Related

• Manchester City vs Liverpool: TV channel, stream, kick-off time, odds & match preview
• Man City Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Liverpool
• Klopp approach could bring out the best & worst in Guardiola’s Man City
• Wenger suggests Liverpool tapped up Oxlade-Chamberlain behind Arsenal’s back

Barcelona director Albert Soler claimed Liverpool’s demands were closer to £180m.

The 25-year-old made two substitute appearances for his country during the international break, scoring in a 2-0 win over Ecuador.

But Klopp told a news conference Coutinho still requires further work on his fitness having missed the opening weeks of the season with a back injury – a stance the player agreed with following talks ahead of the crunch clash at the Etihad Stadium.

After joking that he would not answer questions on Coutinho and the transfer window, Klopp said: “We had a very good talk, he was in a very good mood and training was even better.

“But I have to make a decision. We have seven games in the next three weeks, so there will not be time to train. We had this conversation.

“Before he went to Brazil, he couldn’t train for around three weeks. That means we have to try to prepare him now for the rest of the season – that’s quite difficult with our schedule.

“So I have decided to leave him out of the squad for City. We can use these four or five days for proper training – we have all the numbers [regarding Coutinho’s physical performance] from the Brazilian FA.

“He played twice for 15 to 20 minutes [for Brazil], so he could have played 15 to 20 minutes in the City game, maybe longer.

“But I think this makes sense – and he agreed completely so it’s not that he said he doesn’t need training and wants to play. It was a good conversation.”

Klopp also insisted he had no issue with Coutinho as he hopes to move on from the whole saga.

“It was not an easy time, but that’s the transfer window,” he added. “It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last time that similar things will happen.

“I think we handled it really well. Nothing that I’m aware of was unforgivable. It’s a normal thing.

“He came in and accepted the situation 100 per cent. It was not that I had to say something about it.

“Now, we have a wonderful player in our squad who wants to get fit and wants to play for this club. We don’t know how long anybody will play for this club.”

In Coutinho’s absence, Liverpool picked up back-to-back home wins against Crystal Palace and Arsenal in the Premier League and head into Saturday’s early kick-off level with City on seven points.

Deadline-day signing Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain could be in line to make his Liverpool debut.

Let’