OPINION
Liverpool are one of those clubs that seem to impact a player for the length of their career.
Playing at Anfield, in that uniquely passionate atmosphere, in a city that live and breathes for its football, never seems to leave a player even after they themselves have left the club far behind them.
Take Philippe Coutinho for example. The Brazilian made no bones about his desire to walk away from the Reds as he forced through a move to Barcelona last January, and yet he still speaks like an ardent fan of the club.
When referring to Barca’s upcoming class with Manchester United in the Champions League quarter final, as quoted in the Mirror, he said: “I know that games against Manchester United are special. I learned what they meant during my time at Liverpool when we lived it so intensely with the fans.
“I have that nailed in my memory and, even though this is a different stage, if Barcelona knock United out of Europe, it will be a double personal satisfaction for me.”
Hearing Coutinho talk with such obvious affection for Liverpool will be bittersweet for many supporters.
On the one hand, it’s nice to know that the club affected the playmaker in such a profound way. On the other, he’s gone, and no amount of sweet-talking and United-baiting changes that.
There’s an argument to be made that Jurgen Klopp’s men are a more balanced outfit without Coutinho, but he was hero at Anfield, and there will still be a large section of the Kop faithful who would love for him to still be there.
Even him stuffing Man United over two legs would be little consolation for their grief.
