Liverpool news LIVE updates: Barcelona drop Coutinho interest, Salah worry, Klopp decision
LIVERPOOL are still licking their wounds from Saturday’s hammering to Manchester City but have to recover for tonight’s Champions League clash with Sevilla - and Express Sport brings you the latest news from Anfield.
Pundit: van Dijk move to Liverpool still likely in January
Liverpool news LIVE updates: Follow here for the latest news from Anfield
Wednesday September 13
Coutinho returns
19:45: Philippe Coutinho is ready to come off the bench for Liverpool against Sevilla if needed.
Coutinho was named on the Liverpool bench by Jurgen Klopp and could make his first appearance of the season.
But Klopp says Coutinho is now ready to play.
He said: "Philippe Coutinho is ready, that is why he is on the bench."
Reds can be a force - Gerrard
17.00: Liverpool will be a force again if they can sort out their defensive issues, according to legendary Reds captain Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard says his former side are the most exciting team to watch going forward in England along with Manchester City, but must sort it out at the back.
“We’ve covered Liverpool a couple of times and they’ve looked unbelievable going forward, a lot of pace, probably along side Man City as the two most exciting teams in the league,” Gerrard said on BT Sport.
“But they can’t find consistency in the back four.
“I’m sure once they do it will settle down and I think Liverpool will be a force.”
Klopp needs Coutinho
13:44: Liverpool cannot afford to leave Philippe Coutinho out of the team, according to Robbie Savage.
Following Coutinho’s failed attempt to force through a move to Barcelona in the summer, Savage said: "There's always a way back.
"If he had gone, he would have been the second or third most expensive player in the world.
"Surely there will be a way back for him as long as he gets his head down and wants to play and get back in the side.
"He's a top top player. I don't think Liverpool can afford to leave out somebody like that for a period of time if they want to win stuff.
"It is up to the guy himself. He's at Liverpool now until January, in a World Cup year, it's up to him to get in the side and put in a shift.”
Horn snub
11:10: Timo Horn has revealed he turned down the chance to join Liverpool as a teenager.
Cologne goalkeeper Horn told The Independent: “In principle the thought of moving to England is appealing.
“But it’s not something I’m thinking about right now. I can’t rule it out completely.
“I often had chances and offers to move to England as a youth player, but in my opinion the best goalkeeping education is here in Germany which is why I’ve always stayed.
Timo Werner hint
08:52: Timo Werner says he would consider moving to Liverpool along with a host of other European giants.
RB Leipzig forward Werner has already scored four goals in four outings this season.
The 21-year-old’s future is secure for now - he is contracted until 2020 and does not have a release clause.
"So far, I have progressed very well with Leipzig,” he told Sport Bild.
“That is why I do not think what is ahead in one, two or three years.
“Of course I want to play at a big club. But, we have not yet come to terms with the development at Leipzig. Perhaps RB will be a big club too - I'm quite sure.
"In Spain there are a maximum of three clubs with Barca, Real and Atletico Madrid. In England there are a few more: Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City.
“FC Bayern is also a big club, but for me it is not a topic that I am concerned with."
GETTY
Barcelona will go after Jean Seri instead of Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho
Barca drop Coutinho interest
08:07: Barcelona are reportedly cooling their interest in Philippe Coutinho in order to pursue Jean Seri yet again.
The Coutinho transfer saga dragged on all summer only for the player to eventually remain at Liverpool.
Seri was also targeted by Barca but the Nou Camp giants couldn’t get a deal done - much to the player’s dismay.
But now Spanish newspaper Sport claim Barca will bid again for Seri in the January transfer window.
And it will mean dropping their interest in Coutinho for the time being at least.
Stefan De Vrij interest
05:30: Liverpool are reportedly interested in trying to sign Lazio defender Stefan De Vrij.
The Reds still want to sign a centre-half in the January window and they could resurrect a move for Southampton star Virgil van Dijk.
And according to Italian paper Calciomercato, Jurgen Klopp will make a move for the 25-year-old.
De Vrij will be available on a free next summer, as he will be out of contract.
Talks have supposedly stalled over a new deal.
Coutinho had bad time
04:35: Alberto Moreno admits Philippe Coutinho found his Barcelona transfer saga difficult to handle.
Coutinho is expected to feature tonight against Sevilla after returning to training with Liverpool last week.
And Moreno believes the 25-year-old will put his summer woes behind him by returning to his best for the Anfield club.
“I missed him, he's probably my best friend at the club. I was very happy to have him back,” Moreno told the Daily Mail.
“It was tough for him,' he said. 'He had a bad time but it's over now and I know that he will give everything for Liverpool.”
Mohamed Salah worry
02:30: Liverpool sent Mohamed Salah home from training yesterday ahead of their Champions League clash with Sevilla.
Liverpool will be hoping to make amends for the embarrassing 5-0 defeat to Manchester City when they host Sevilla tonight.
But their are concerns whether summer signing Salah will feature after the player was allowed to return home.
A club statement read: “Mohamed Salah missed Liverpool's training session on Tuesday afternoon due to illness.
“The No.11 was absent as the Reds continued preparations for the opening game of their Champions League group-stage campaign, against Sevilla at Anfield on Wednesday night.
“Salah reported to Melwood but was sent home as a precaution.”
Klopp discusses goalkeeper decision
01:00: Jurgen Klopp has explained why he has decided to name Loris Karius as his goalkeeper for the match against Sevilla tonight.
The Liverpool boss said prior to their match against Manchester City that Simon Mignolet was a ‘clear number one’.
But Klopp insists Karius has proven himself in training to earn a starting spot.
"If nothing happens overnight then Loris will start, yes, but no it doesn't mean that (Karius is now number one)," Klopp said.
"Why do we think number one, two, three is fixed until the end of all days?
"I don't want to bring that in doubt but how can you ask if he's number one? By the way, it's not that he shouldn't be number one.
"If they train bad they don't deserve a game, but they both train really well, they keep the level really high.”
GETTY
Mohamed Salah is a worry for Liverpool's match against Sevilla tonight
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Karius to start
20:47: Goalkeeper Loris Karius will start Liverpool's Champions League match at home to Sevilla tomorrow night (7.45pm) in preference to regular No1 Simon Mignolet.
Playmaker Philippe Coutinho will be in Liverpool's squad for the first time this season after his back injury and failed attempt to force a move to Barcelona.
Winger Mohamed Salah sat out training today as a precaution because of illness but is expected to rejoin the squad on Wednesday, while centre-back Dejan Lovren is set to return at the expense of Ragnar Klavan.
18.05: Liverpool star Sadio Mane’s tackle against Manchester City on Saturday would have seen him sent off 25 years ago, according to former Reds defender Steve Nicol.
Many pundits have claimed that type of tackle would not have seen red a few years ago but Nicol, who won five league titles with Liverpool between 1984 and 1990, disagrees.
“Let me just put this in context,” he said on ESPN FC.
“Twenty five years ago when I was playing, that was a red card. That was a red card then.
“Even back then, if you tried to take somebody’s head off it was a red card.”
GETTY
Barcelona tell Philippe Coutinho to refuse to play in the Champions League for Liverpool
Coutinho situation sad - Souness
16.20: Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has described Philippe Coutinho’s situation at Liverpool as “sad”.
“If I’m a player, and I’ve been in that situation, the chance to join Barcelona would be enormous,” Souness told Sky Sports.
“He may see it as a missed opportunity. So all eyes will be on him going forward at Liverpool, see what sort of attitude he has from now on but I’m sure he will be fine.”
City defeat "could be damaging"
16.00: Liverpool’s 5-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday could be damaging to Jurgen Klopp’s squad, according to former Reds midfielder Graeme Souness.
“When you go down to 10 men against a very good team it’s damage limitation,” Souness told Sky Sports.
“I think maybe Liverpool will look at that and maybe learn from that, thinking they can still win against a very good team like City are these days.
“5-0 can be psychologically damaging but we will have to wait and see if it has damaged them.”
Coutinho to be benched
09:39: Liverpool legend John Aldridge reckons Philippe Coutinho will only make Jurgen Klopp’s bench for tomorrow’s Champions League game with Sevilla.
Discussing Klopp’s probable team selection, Aldridge told the Liverpool Echo: "There's Philippe Coutinho available, of course, but I think he'll be on the bench for this.
"The front three will be the same, and given that he's not had a lot of football in the last month, I'd not expect him to start just yet.
"He's more likely targeting the League Cup against Leicester for a start, but he might just be able to give us something off the bench before then."
Van Dijk bid in January
08:00: Liverpool will be back in for Virgil van Dijk in January should they get out of their group in the Champions League, according to Ian McGarry.
Liverpool were heavily linked with the Dutch defender throughout the summer but were forced to publicly end their pursuit after Southampton accused them of illegally tapping him up.
McGarry said on the Transfer Window Podcast: "I still Van Dijk, of the three rebels [Alexis Sanchez and Philippe Coutinho], has the best chance of leaving in January because he won't be cup tied for European competition.
"So, should Liverpool make it out of the Champions League group stage and into the knockout phase I think we could very well see, and I would expect to see, another bid for Van Dijk in January.”
Barca’s Coutinho request
07:30: Philippe Coutinho has been told not to play in Liverpool’s Champions League games by Barcelona, according to reports.
Jurgen Klopp is hopeful Coutinho will be available for their Champions League opener against Sevilla tomorrow (7:45pm) following his recover from a back injury.
However, Spanish outlet Don Balon claim Barcelona want him to refuse to play for the Reds in their European games.
It is said Barca will attempt to sign Coutinho again in January after having three bids rejected for him during the summer window.
But the La Liga giants want him to not feature in any of Liverpool’s Champions League games as they want to utilise him in Europe he signs for them in January.