Philippe Coutinho returns to Liverpool with Brazil stars Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus, Willian, Ederson and Roberto Firmino while Neymar heads to France

  • Philippe Coutinho made his first appearances of the new season with Brazil
  • He now returns to Liverpool after handing in a transfer request last month
  • Barcelona had three big-money bids for the Brazilian rejected in the summer 
  • Neymar, who left Barcelona for PSG, headed back to France with team-mates 

Philippe Coutinho headed back to Europe from Colombia late on Tuesday night after making his first appearances of the new season with Brazil during the international break.

The playmaker has not featured for Liverpool this season after a high-profile transfer saga with Barcelona that went right to the wire on deadline day last week.

Meanwhile, Neymar led the rest of Brazil's Europe-based contingent back to France ahead of domestic action resuming.


Philippe Coutinho accompanied Brazil team-mates Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus, Ederson and Roberto Firmino back to England on Tuesday night

Philippe Coutinho accompanied Brazil team-mates Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus, Ederson and Roberto Firmino back to England on Tuesday night

Neymar shared a picture on his jet back from Brazil alongside (left-to-right) Thiago Silva, Dani Alves, Filipe Luiz, Marquinhos and Jemerson

Neymar shared a picture on his jet back from Brazil alongside (left-to-right) Thiago Silva, Dani Alves, Filipe Luiz, Marquinhos and Jemerson

Neymar uploaded a selfie to his Instagram as well as footage of him singing on the plane
PSG star Neymar uploaded  footage of him singing on the plane back to Europe

Neymar uploaded a selfie to his Instagram as well as footage of him singing on the plane

Coutinho has been on international duty with Brazil over the past 10 days

Coutinho has been on international duty with Brazil over the past 10 days

The PSG star shared pictures of his return journey on Instagram alongside club team-mates Thiago Silva, Dani Alves and Marquinhos, Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luiz and Monaco defender Jemerson. 

Clubs across Europe regularly split the cost of their players returning from South America via private jet in order to have them back preparing for domestic action as swiftly as possible.

Neymar also shared footage on his Instagram story of the group on the plane with him singing along to music, as well as a selfie.

Liverpool rejected three big-money bids for their Brazilian star Coutinho and insisted that their star player was not for sale at any price this summer despite his transfer request.

The 25-year-old made two substitute appearances for his country, in Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with Colombia and scored late in the 2-0 victory over Ecuador on Thursday.

Coutinho was snapped on Willian's Instagram profile making a return flight home alongside a group fellow Brazil team-mates and Premier League stars.

They included his Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino, Chelsea winger Willian and Manchester City's cohort of Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus and goalkeeper Ederson. 

Willian found the net for Brazil in the 1-1 draw with Colombia. 

Jurgen Klopp faces a selection headache ahead of this weekend's return to action when Liverpool head to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Willian celebrates after finding the net for Brazil in the 1-1 draw with Colombia on Tuesday

Willian celebrates after finding the net for Brazil in the 1-1 draw with Colombia on Tuesday

Coutinho made his first appearance of the new season in the 2-0 win over Ecuador

Coutinho made his first appearance of the new season in the 2-0 win over Ecuador

The Liverpool star scored on his return to competitive action against Ecuador last Thursday

The Liverpool star scored on his return to competitive action against Ecuador last Thursday

With Coutinho now available for selection again following the closing of the transfer window and his recovery from a back injury that Liverpool claimed had kept him out of action last month, he could return at City.

In his absence Liverpool sealed their place in the Champions League group stage with a 6-3 aggregate victory over Hoffenheim.

The Reds also sit second in the Premier League table after entering the international break on the back of a 4-0 thrashing of Arsenal at Anfield.

Coutinho handed in a transfer request at Liverpool amid heavy interest from Barcelona

Coutinho handed in a transfer request at Liverpool amid heavy interest from Barcelona

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