Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho a major doubt for season opener against Watford as Barcelona try to steal him away from Anfield

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Philippe Coutinho is a major doubt for Liverpool’s Premier League opener at Watford after he once again missed training.

The Brazil international, whose future is the subject of intense speculation, has been undergoing treatment on a back issue at Melwood since Liverpool returned from a fitness camp in Germany last Thursday.

Coutinho missed the final warm-up fixture against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin on Saturday as a precaution but he has not made the anticipated progress and there is a question on whether he will be available at Vicarage Road.

Philippe Coutinho could miss the start of the season for Liverpool amid transfer speculation

Barcelona are desperate to sign the midfielder and they will be watching developments, particularly as Liverpool immediately head into a Champions League qualifier against Hoffenheim after Watford.

Jurgen Klopp has already suffered the blow of losing Adam Lallana with a thigh issue and the last thing he needs is to be without Coutinho against Marco Silva’s side, having stressed to his squad the importance of making a fast start.

Liverpool’s stance in the face of renewed speculation on Coutinho is that he isn’t for sale, regardless of whether Barcelona offer up to £120million for the 25-year-old.

One positive update for Klopp is that Daniel Sturridge, who suffered a thigh issue in 3-0 win against Bayern Munich last Tuesday, has started running again and could make the squad to face Watford.

Sturridge had a scan when he returned to Merseyside to determine how much damage was done but it was more a fatigue issue and assuming there are no more problems, the England striker could be involved in full training tomorrow.

Coutinho has been struggling with a back issue and has been forced to sit out of training

Klopp is happy with how preparations for the campaign have gone and at a press conference on Wednesday to announce Western Union as the club’s shirt sleeve sponsors, Liverpool’s manager expressed his contentment.

‘When we finished last season in fourth position everybody was really happy about it - it was really a good result for a big effort,’ said Klopp.

‘We knew also there would be a qualification game, and now it is coming up. But the first challenge we have to face is playing Watford, even though everybody is thinking about the Champions League qualifiers.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been adamant that he will not sell his star player

'So Watford is the first target, and we have a few more days to prepare for this game.We are in a good shape. The players are in a good mood, the attitude in all the training sessions was really good.

‘Yes, there have been one or two little injuries and one bigger (Adam Lallana's thigh problem), but that is how life is. We showed it in Dublin again that we are in a good shape.

‘So everything is in a good way - but of course now we have to deliver, and we know that, so we are ready for it. The freshness is coming back. We are really excited.’