Plenty of Liverpool fans would happily have Philippe Coutinho back at the club following praise for the 27-year-old playmaker from former Reds captain Phil Thompson.
The pundit, who skippered the Merseysiders to European Cup glory in 1981, told Sky Sports [via Evening Standard]: “I feel we also need that creative midfield player. It’s always been a thing – would you take Coutinho back? I’m one who would do – in a heartbeat. I think he’s a creative genius.” His words were later shared on Twitter by @AnfieldEdition.
Phil Thompson: “They [Liverpool] are probably looking at that creative midfield player.
“Would you take Coutinho back? I would, in a heartbeat. I think he’s a creative genius.
You look back at his Liverpool career and he was absolutely terrific. He’s not too old.” pic.twitter.com/LCUUE0HXG6
— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) April 13, 2020
Coutinho, who scored 54 goals in 201 Liverpool appearances in five years at the club before a £142m transfer to Barcelona in 2018, had been linked with a possible return to Anfield by Spanish media outlet Sport [via Daily Express] last month. However, according to The Mirror‘s David Maddock, the Reds subsequently indicated that they had “zero interest” in bringing him back for a second spell.
The Brazilian had an impressive scoring return at Anfield and was among the PFA Player of the Year nominees in 2015 but he has not managed to find his best form at Barcelona, being jeered by some fans a year ago and being sent on loan to Bayern Munich this season. Also, as claimed by Mundo Deportivo (via Calciomercato), he allegedly spent €10m (£8.83m) of his own money to try and push through his move from Liverpool to Barcelona, a move which somewhat soured his reputation on Merseyside.
Despite that, these Reds fans on Twitter would gladly take Coutinho back at Anfield, sharing Thompson’s views on the 27-year-old:
If we put our emotion aside, getting him would make total sense. He was proven good at our team. For 60 millions euro he would be a bargain.
— Pandemic Diplomacy as part of Belt Road Initiative (@mbelgedees) April 13, 2020
Coutinho type player is the missing link in Klopp midfield ie
…Keita Coutinho
…..Fabinho
???????— nomad@XXX (@nomad56060053) April 13, 2020
Have to agree we need a creative midfield player, think he is the man. Must come cheap
— jonnie doyle (@jonnieivandoyle) April 13, 2020
I know he left under a cloud, but imagine the link up with bobby, mo and Sadie ?
— Rich (@R1chW4tto) April 13, 2020
I would take him back. He’s a creative player who can provide competition across the front three and the midfield.
— The Anfield Buzz (@anfield_buzz) April 13, 2020
He was our best player before he left. Anyone who says we’re better without him is deliberately misrepresenting the truth.
— TomSymondsFan (@symonds_fan) April 13, 2020
Would you like to have Coutinho back at Liverpool or has his time been and gone? Comment below with your views!
