Jurgen Klopp tells Liverpool stars to get behind Philippe Coutinho as the wantaway Barcelona target jets back to Merseyside with Brazil team-mates
Kop boss hopes the Brazil playmaker will settle down quickly - but first will assess if he is ready to face Man City this Saturday
JURGEN KLOPP has told his stars to get behind Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool’s Brazilian jetted home from World Cup duty after failing to push through a move to Barcelona.
He could face Manchester City this weekend and Klopp is urging his squad to welcome back the wantaway star.
The 25-year-old playmaker has yet to appear for Liverpool this season after slapping in a transfer request and complaining of a back injury.
But after turning down three Barca bids, Klopp is desperate to get Coutinho back playing as soon as possible.
The German will assess his star man before deciding if he will be in the squad for Saturday’s Prem showdown.
Klopp is also expected to ask Liverpool fans to get behind Coutinho, despite angering them by agitating for a move to the Nou Camp.
He is more likely to make the bench than start against City, given he was only due to arrive back from South America last night — along with Brazil team-mate Roberto Firmino.
More Liverpool stories
Coutinho jetted back to England with the rest of the Prem’s Brazilian stars in a private jet paid for by their clubs.
Meanwhile, £35million Liverpool new-boy Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain last night hailed Klopp with a thinly-veiled dig at ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
The Ox said: “I felt this was definitely the place for me. The way the manager’s teams play, that’s inspirational. How he pushes and encourages you.
“And the thing that really stood out was his relationship with the players.
“How close he seems to bond with them. When you’re looking to progress, having that relationship with the manager, that definitely helps.”
most read in football
Keep up to date with ALL the transfer news and gossip on our blog