Philippe Coutinho won’t walk straight back into Liverpool’s team after his transfer request fiasco.
The 25-year-old playmaker has not been named in Jurgen Klopp’s squad for Saturday afternoon’s Premier League game at Man City.
The manager claims it is because lack of fitness and a late return from Brazil, after appearing for the final 14 minutes of his Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador on September 1 in which he scored the second goal and playing 15 minutes in the draw with Colombia four days later.
But its quite clear that it is also a message that he can’t walk straight back into the team after submitting a transfer request to Barcelona last month then refusing to play because of a dubious back injury.
Hopefully, once the dust settles all will be well and he will return to the sparkling form that attracted the attention of the Spanish gialnts in the first place. Liverpool are going to need the Little Magician at his best if they are to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League this season.