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Philippe Coutinho
The Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp, shares an embrace with Philippe Coutinho at Bournemouth on Sunday. Photograph: Graham Hunt/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock
The Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp, shares an embrace with Philippe Coutinho at Bournemouth on Sunday. Photograph: Graham Hunt/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock

Oxlade-Chamberlain hails Liverpool team-mate Coutinho’s class

This article is more than 6 years old

‘He’s the most professional person I’ve seen all season,’ says England player
Brazilian Coutinho sparkles in Liverpool’s 4-0 romp at Bournemouth

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain described Philippe Coutinho as “the most professional person I’ve seen all season” after the Brazilian playmaker dazzled in the comfortable victory at Bournemouth to thrust Liverpool back into the Premier League’s top four.

Coutinho, whose start to the season was hampered by illness and a back injury after Barcelona failed with three bids to buy him, opened the scoring for the visitors, struck the woodwork from a free-kick and set up Roberto Firmino for the fourth as Jürgen Klopp’s team ran riot. Barcelona are expected to test Liverpool’s resolve to retain the 25-year-old next month but, when that matter was raised in a post-match interview, Oxlade-Chamberlain moved to intervene.

“Phil’s a Liverpool player right now and he’s doing really well for us,” said the England midfielder, putting his arm around his team-mate. “He’s been the most professional person I’ve seen all season. He’s been top quality from the start and every time he gets on the pitch he does his all for the club. That’s the most important thing right now [and] it’s not fair to ask those kind of questions I don’t think. He gives us his all every game and that’s all we can ask from him.”

Klopp saw Mohamed Salah register a 20th goal in 26 appearances for Liverpool, who are now unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions, and praised his side’s overall approach. “We were really spot on,” the German said. “I’m really happy with the full package we showed today. We’re really satisfied. I don’t know [if Manchester City can be caught]. I don’t have a crystal ball. But they fight for everything. They are not flying at the moment, and they really work hard for it. If they struggle, like maybe nobody with their quality has struggled before, then someone should be there to use it, but I don’t see it.

“But if I stopped working hard the moment I couldn’t be a league champion, I wouldn’t be here. We have so many things to play for. It’s really hard, really intense, and it’ll be unbelievable the number of points you’ll need at the end of the season to get anything. Everyone is winning up there, very often, so we need to carry on and stay on track. A lot of teams are in good shape, but City are winning all their games.”

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