Philippe Coutinho scores INCREDIBLE goal for Brazil
Liverpool News LIVE updates: All the latest news and gossip from Anfield
Monday September 4
Coutinho may not play Champions League
20:23: Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho is considering NOT playing in the Champions League group stage as a protest against his failed move to Barcelona, claim reports in Spain.
That is according to Spanish newspaper SPORT, who claim Coutinho is considering not playing in Europe despite being named in Liverpool’s squad for the Champions League.
They claim Coutinho is worried Barca won’t want to sign him in January if he is cup-tied from playing in the Champions League.
Should the player get a run-out in the group stage for Liverpool he would be ineligible to play for another club in the same Champions League campaign.
Phil should copy Luis - Heskey
19.00: Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho should knuckle down and perform this season, just like Luis Suarez did in his final year at Anfield.
That is according to former Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey.
“Yeah (he’ll perform), why not? We had it with Suarez as well,” Heskey said on Sky Sports.
“There’s another player who’s gone on to do great things but the time he had at Liverpool was wonderful.
“He got his head down and really put in performances.”
GETTY
Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho could supposedly withdraw himself from playing in the Champions League
Rodgers on being sacked
16:54: Brendan Rodgers says his time as Liverpool manager was so draining he needed a break after he was sacked.
"When I came out of Liverpool, I needed a break," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
"It was so intense. It was draining. We moved to London just to come away from it.
"I had offers from England and a couple from China where the money is very good, and that's tempting for a boy from Northern Ireland.
"But I had come out of one of the biggest institutions in the world and I had to find that pressure again. I've got that now.
"With Liverpool, you can go away from home and draw and that's okay. But Celtic, you have to win every game. It's a different pressure.
“I came as close as anyone there to the holy grail of winning the league. That season, with the fans, it was special."
Nathaniel Clyne omission
14:30: Nathaniel Clyne has been left out of Liverpool's Champions League squad for the upcoming group stage.
Clyne has not played for Liverpool since suffering a thigh problem in their first game in pre-season in July and in a sign that the injury could keep him out for an extended period, he has not been included.
Messi calls Coutinho
12.40: Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez rang Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho during the summer, it has been claimed.
Barcelona spent the summer pursuing Coutinho but Liverpool were ultimately able to hold onto their prized asset.
Yet Spanish outlet Don Balon claims Messi and Suarez were both desperate for the player to make the move to La Liga.
And, as a result of their eagerness to see Coutinho arrive, the two players reportedly inundated the Brazilian with phone calls.
It is said that Suarez, who spent three-and-a-half years at Liverpool, still has a good relationship with Coutinho.
And he tried to use their close connection to persuade the player to move to La Liga.
Coutinho named in Champions League squad
10.45: Philippe Coutinho has been named in Liverpool’s Champions League squad after failing to secure a late move to Barcelona.
Coutinho is understood to be devastated at the move falling through and doesn’t want to return to England.
But Liverpool have named on their list for the Champions League this term after securing a place in the group stages.
Liverpool beat Hoffenheim over two legs after finishing fourth in the Premier League.
And they were drawn against Spartak Moscow, Sevilla and Maribor.
Henderson backs Ox move
09.15: Jordan Henderson has backed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to become a better player at Liverpool.
The England ace joined Liverpool from Arsenal on deadline day in a bid to develop his career
And Henderson thinks he’s at the right place.
“He’s a fantastic player, he can adapt to each position and he gives you something different on the wing.
“He’s very direct and powerful and in the midfield he’s clever enough to get on the ball and get on the half turn so, for me, he can play in either position.
“You have seen Jurgen on the sidelines, he’s very passionate, what you see is a fantastic manager and I think he will help Alex a lot.
“He will help him develop as a player and hopefully you will see even more good things from him.”
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Souness talks Coutinho
09:00: Liverpool should have sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona, according to former player Graeme Souness.
"I would have accepted an offer in excess of £100m for [Coutinho]," Souness told The Sunday Times.
"I know Paris Saint-Germain have paid £198m for Neymar and another £166m for Kylian Mbappe from Monaco, for his potential as an 18-year-old, but I would argue that for that sort of money they have to be game-changers on a regular basis.
"I would have taken Barcelona’s offer."
Coutinho doesn't want to return
08:00: Philippe Coutinho was left 'crestfallen' by the collapse of his transfer to Barcelona.
Spanish newspaper Sport quote friends of Coutinho saying: "We still do not understand why Liverpool did not want to sell."
It says following international duty with Brazil, Coutinho's return to Liverpool is 'a flight that he never wanted to take'.
Coutinho is said to have spent Thursday night in a restaurant with his family and the atmosphere was a 'like a funeral’ and he was ‘crestfallen as he had never been seen before’.
Liverpool have since denied claims by Barcelona that they were open to selling Coutinho for £183m on deadline day in Spain.
PA
Coutinho was desperate join Barcelona
Giggs backs Liverpool
07:30: Man Utd legend Ryan Giggs has tipped Liverpool to push for the Premier League title
“I didn’t fancy Liverpool before the season started, but they’ve made some decent buys and kept [Philippe] Coutinho which is a boost for them,” Giggs told ESPN FC.
“To win the league you need a top goalkeeper and you wonder have they got that?
"That would be the only question, but after the business they’ve done I’ve probably changed my mind a little bit and they will be in the mix.”
