Jurgen Klopp hints Coutinho could feature against Sevilla

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Bengaluru, September 11: Philippe Coutinho could make a surprise return to Liverpool's matchday squad for their midweek Champions League clash with Sevilla, manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed.

The unsettled Brazilian is yet to play in a competitive match for the Reds this season in the wake of a probable move to Barcelona which later eventually failed. The midfielder at some point of time also asked the club for a transfer request to move to Barcelona.

However, Liverpool were adamant in their approach and did not let the player leave at any cost. And now after their match against Manchester City, Klopp has now affirmed the 25-year-old is in contention for a return in the upcoming Champions league fixture.

Coutinho would be an added advantage to a side beaten 5-0 by Manchester City on Saturday, a slump started by Sadio Mane's first-half red card.

While talking in their post match conference after their humiliating - defeat against Manchester City on Saturday (September 9), when Klopp was asked if he would include Coutinho in the squad, the German manager nodded his head and said 'yes'.

The Reds manager also defended his call to leave Philippe Coutinho at home for Liverpool's disastrous 5-0 defeat.

Klopp said Coutinho was involved twice on international duty over a week and wanted to offer him rest which according to the German was a the right decision.

“With Phil, we didn't create more chances against City in the past. It was the decision, no problem. Blame me for this, really no problem, but it was a decision for the season.

"He came back long flight, 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there, three weeks without training. We play on Wednesday, we play on Saturday, we play, play, play.

“I'm not sure it's that easy but if it's that easy it's cool, I have only to bring Phil in and everything is good again,” he said.