Philippe Coutinho to ‘give everything’ for Liverpool despite seeing Barcelona transfer fall through
PHILIPPE COUTINHO will "give everything" his all for Liverpool - despite seeing his Barcelona dream fade.
That is the view of Alberto Moreno, who is delighted to see best pal Coutinho back in Reds' ranks.
Jurgen Klopp's side face Sevilla in their Champions League opener tonight with Coutinho set for his first appearance of the season.
The Samba star saw three Barca bids rejected before deadline day as the Anfield club stood firm over their insistence Coutinho was going nowhere.
In an interview with the Mail, Moreno said: "I missed him, he's probably my best friend at the club. I was very happy to have him back.
"It was tough for him. He had a bad time but it's over now and I know that he will give everything for Liverpool.
"It would be a dream for any team to have him but he stays with us. Liverpool said no and it meant no.
"It's just a huge boost. We have a lot of quality here now."
Klopp has urged Coutinho's team-mate Sadio Mane to keep playing at full throttle despite a three-match ban.
The Reds boss leads the club into their first Champions League group-stage clash for three seasons when they host Sevilla at Anfield.
Senegalese forward Mane saw his three-match ban for catching Manchester City keeper Ederson with a high boot upheld yesterday.
But he is clear to play in Europe tonight.
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Klopp said: "Not even a percentage of Sadio wanted to bring the goalkeeper in danger.
"He really wanted to get the ball. It's important he wants to do that in all the games he plays.
"We cannot change this. It's a sport where things like this happen. I don't blame the ref for the decision.
"He didn't give the red card immediately but, when he saw the player bleeding, I would have made the same decision."
LIVERPOOL LIKELY LINE-UP VS SEVILLA
Karius; Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Can; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Firmino, Mane.
Liverpool's FA appeal against the ban has been rejected.
And Klopp added: "We only appealed the length of the suspension and not the red card. It looked awful and he was lucky nothing more serious had not happened."
The Reds' Group E opponents beat them in the 2016 Europa League final.
Klopp confirmed Loris Karius will start in goal but Mohamed Salah was sent home as a precaution in case his sore throat proves to be a virus.
But the Anfield boss refused to say whether Coutinho will feature.
He said: "I am sure all the Liverpool supporters are ready to wait another few hours. He is fit, he is healthy."
Sevilla chief Eduardo Berizzo is not fooled by the Reds' 5-0 defeat by City on Saturday.
He said: "More of a reference is the last time they played at home, they beat Arsenal 4-0."
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