Coutinho left out of Liverpool squad for Manchester City

 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed Philippe Coutinho will not travel with the squad for Saturday’s clash with Manchester City.

 

Coutinho has not featured for Liverpool this season and will instead train on Saturday in order to boost his fitness.

 

A back injury kept Coutinho out of the start of the campaign, while the Brazil international was also expected to join Barcelona.

 

However, Liverpool stood firm and turned down the chance to make in excess of £100m on the 25-year-old, but Klopp has conceded this match will come too soon for his No.10.

 

“I have decided to leave him out of the squad for City,” ESPN quote Klopp as saying at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “It was clear it was not the most easy time. I think we handled it well. Nothing I’m aware of was unforgivable.”

 

 

Coutinho did get some game time under his belt for Brazil during the international break, playing 82 minutes over two matches.

 

His absence is a great loss for Klopp’s side having scored more goals against City than any other team in his career (5).