Melissa Reddy has revealed that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp still has a good relationship with Barcelona playmaker Phillipe Coutinho, despite his efforts to leave the club in 2018.
The ESPN journalist highlighted how a move back to Anfield would have potentially become tricky as the Brazilian’s status has changed since he left Merseyside less than two years ago.
Reddy believed that the 27-year-old would return much further down the pecking order than when he left, claiming that he would struggle for game time under Klopp.
Coutinho made 201 appearances for the Reds and managed to score 54 goals and add 45 assists – a record he has failed to get even close too elsewhere in his career.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, Reddy highlighted the relationship between the two: “Coutinho and Klopp have a good relationship, in spite of everything that happened. But, I think this Liverpool team have evolved to the point where Coutinho needs this Liverpool side more than they need him. He left as the best player at the club, he would return and be about sixth or seventh.”
“He wouldn’t be guaranteed a starting position and I think that would be a very hard thing for him to accept, given his five years on Merseyside, he was in the starting 11 if he was fit no doubt, so to be in that position where he’d be getting left out of big games for tactical reasons and stuff, I think it would have been unsettling to him.”
"He left as the best player at the club. He would return at about 6th or 7th." – @MelissaReddy_
?? Have @LFC evolved past Philippe Coutinho? ????#bbcfootball#DeadlineDay #LFC pic.twitter.com/e7OqidL42z
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) August 8, 2019
OPINION
Reddy is definitely right, although many Liverpool fans would jump at the chance to see Coutinho back in a Reds’ shirt, it would be a big risk for a player who wouldn’t be guaranteed first-team football. Klopp has to be realistic with his signings, and the Brazilian would require a hefty fee to secure his services. After Coutinho left, the emergence of Mohamed Salah took over and led to Coutinho being a distant memory. Add to that, the playmaker’s form for the Spanish giants and there surely can’t be a case made to prove he would be a worthy signing. Yes, the class is obviously there, but what would he bring that Liverpool don’t already have? Last season, the 27-year-old somewhat struggled for Barcelona, only managing to score five goals in La Liga, whilst adding only a couple of assists – a poor return to say he made 34 appearances. Liverpool would need Coutinho to rediscover the consistent form that earned him a move to Spain to even reconsider launching a move to bring him back, and as of now, any potential move is simply not worth it.
