15 Jul 2019 12:44:47
Just read on BBC Sport that Coutinho has agreed a 2 year loan with option to buy to return to Liverpool. Seems to originate from an Italian site (which is bizarre in itself as he's a Brazilian playing for a Spanish side, moving (apparently) to an English side!

1.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 13:14:11
Sounds like BS to me. Still think we're a better team without him and I know we'd all like an Attacking Mid who can change games but I think I'd like one with more pace and with the knack of arriving late into the box and banging in the odd goal or 10 - on past form that's not really Couts game.

2.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 13:14:45
Ignore it Zeddicus mate. All fabrication. I have more chance of signing for us next season that he has mate.

3.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 13:23:07
His agent kia jorachim was on radio this morning saying he's not leaving Barcelona this summer. Although I wouldn't believe a word that comes out of his mouth.

4.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 13:23:51
As if Barcelona will loan him for 2 years with an option too buy for 88million, honestly its laughable .

5.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 13:33:33
Really see no upside to that deal for Barcelona, if it was just an option to buy. A commitment to buy would make more sense, especially if there was also a considerable loan payment made, but a) that's not what the article says and b) I don't think it's true in any way.

6.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 13:52:44
A 2 year loan with an option to buy at the end of the loan would just be ridiculous from Barcelona's point of view. As a player he seems to be in decline.

So if he's worth £88 million now, he'll be worth less at the end of the loan in 2 years time. I also cannot see where he would fit into this Liverpool team.

7.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 14:13:01
Isn't the 88million the amount that Barcelona still owe us? So basically we can have him for 2 years and then keep him. To be fair I'd take him. he would of turned 1 of those draws last season into a win. at least 1. I know he left in bad circumstances, but we all make some mistakes in life. Hopefully there is a chance of him fekir or cornet.

8.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 15:07:52
The team were better after he left. I’d rather a player that fit us better. I’d also rather have the money barcelona owe us, Coutinho is worth far less then that. It’s worth keeping the books balanced so we’re ready when an alisson/ Van dijk comes along.

9.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 15:34:41
Personally I’d take him back in a heartbeat. Proven in the prem and no matter how it’s gone in Spain he is still a class player no matter what anyone thinks of him.

10.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 16:11:55
A two year loan with an option to buy isn’t that crazy, I think that’s what bayern had for James Rodriguez.
But I don’t think this would happen it will upset too many people.

He doesn’t suit our current play style as he holds onto the ball too long but he’s one of the best in world at breaking a team down when they play deep. A master of cute flicks and passes. His assist to Sturridge when he turned his back on the ball and let it roll over his heel was just ridiculous.

11.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 17:11:36
If you wouldn't have Coutinho back because of the way he angled to leave the club, fair play, understandable, but saying he couldn't improve the team or that he is in declined is outrageous. Do I think Barcelona would approve the above transfer? Nah. Would I have him back? Yes.

{Ed001's Note - sorry but I disagree, he is not that good and we are better without him. Most overrated player around right now, for some reason people are blinded by him and seem to think he is much better than he is. I do agree he has not declined, he just isn't good enough.}

12.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 17:26:48
The way I read it was that he "approved" of the opportunity to do it, no that it was agreed to by either of the teams involved or that it was nailed on.

13.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 17:29:23
We would have won the league with Phil in the team last season. I'd love him back, though i'm certain this is utter nonsense.

14.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 19:46:08
SG84EVA

He wouldn't have got a game with that recurring back injury. ;)

15.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 19:47:38
Never thought he was good enough. We won the lottery when he left not just money the team improved he was a noose around its neck. Can’t believe we still talking about him. There is no one in our squad I would drop for him.

16.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 19:54:50
SG4EVA. With Coutinho in the team, we may have won a game or two that we drew, but some of those 1-0 and 2-1 wins were down to having 11 players completely grafting for the cause.

What I'm saying is that we may have won one of those draws, but also dropped other points due to him taking another valuable member's place.

Who would you have him play instead of? Mane? Henderson? Wijnaldum? He doesn't have anywhere near the level of commitment that those bring to our team.

17.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 21:02:22
The main thing people remember when you mention Coutinho is his goals from outside the box and quick feet in tight spaces. Besides those what else has he got? He doesn't put in a defensive shift, he can sometimes be a bit selfish and shoot when there is no chance instead of keeping possession and he developed a back problem wearing the weight of the red shirt 😂
I mean if it was really stress that caused his sore back, his back should be broken with how it’s worked out for him in Spain.

18.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 21:30:28
I really want Coutinho back. He can rotate with the front three and if he does well maybe we can change from 433 to a 4231 as we did with Shaqiri.

19.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 22:56:40
Epic potato we had coutinho we didn't score 90 point or win the champions league. Those players you infer aren't as good did and went a whole season only losing away to Manchester City. Two great teams competed and Liverpool finished second if you want to blame anything blame the weather against Leicester the red card that wasn't against Leicester and the stone wall penalty that wasn't against Leicester. Rather than suggesting a player that wasn't good enough to compete at this level previously is now all of a sudden the reason why a team that well surpassed the teams he's competed in is the reason they didn't win the league. Pfft come on pull the ovther one.

20.) 15 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 23:23:26
EpicPotato, I'd have Coutinho in the team ahead of Wijnaldum any day, Gini seems to be afforded the luxury of being useless away from home because he grafts a lot. Often people bemoaned our midfield last year for no creative spark and no goals, Couts gives you that.

People keep saying we were better without him, only because we used his money to buy VVD and Alisson, surely it's not because we finally rid ourselves of Coutinhos terrible football? He was great for us, him feeding Mane, Salah and Bobby would be great in my opinion mate.

21.) 16 Jul 2019
15 Jul 2019 22:50:10
Ed001 bang on the money he was a decent player in a n average team for years. Passing is ok his finishing is poor except from the one shot coming in from the left. Liverpool and klopp did great business in seeking him to Barcelona. I'd like to see the club strengthen the depth of the squad to compete in all competitions but that shouldn't be taking an expensive step back to take on a player that's average at best. The deals for the Dutch cb and that Fulham lad are a great step forward. 16 and 17. Hope that Brewster plays more thieves season and then there's origi and shaqiri so maybe that depth is there. Be an interesting season as the squad will be closer now and be European champions. Ox coming back lallana stays fit keita settles in ( glimpses of geniuses at times last year) . So it's a no for coutinho would like to see more goals from midfield but I'm being picky. Expect a quiet month.

22.) 16 Jul 2019
16 Jul 2019 05:11:18
SG84EVA, nearly every game coutinho played for us in a midfield 2/ 3, he was absolutely useless iirc. He drifted around aimlessly far too much instead of getting involved and our tactic was pretty much 'try and give the ball to couts so he can do something with it' because he was never going to try and get it himself.
He was far more effective out on the left, but he doesn't get ahead of Origi as backup out wide for me.

23.) 16 Jul 2019
16 Jul 2019 12:11:30
SG84EVA it's very easy to look at hard working midfielders and say they don't create anything but you would be wrong and you would most definitely not be considering their overall effect on the game.

The it running and pressing creates space for forward players as the opponent have to chase them around. In addition to this they win the ball back much further up the pitch which takes advantage of space.

Do they play the Hollywood killer passes? No but to say they create nothing shows a lack of understanding of the team element of football.

24.) 16 Jul 2019
16 Jul 2019 20:10:27
I've said this numerous times, coutinho flits in and out of games. Does nothing then scores a worldy. It was good business to get rid. If you can't make it in the Spanish league playing for the best team, you won't make it in the premier league. Though you have to give the lad more than one season to produce the goods.

25.) 16 Jul 2019
16 Jul 2019 20:41:31
Cou is history and should stay there, permanently. He is not good enuff cos if he was, why would Barcelona want rid of him? People don't ask that cos all they want is the good parts of Cou's stay here and not the bad parts. We were and are a much better team without him at every level and that much is clear.

"He can turn some of those draws into wins". You mean like he didn't do when he was here? That is just ludicrous. Sorry, I am not interested in Barca's sloppy second's and IMO, neither is Klopp. We are better without him as a team, a group of players and as a club. We have rallied after his departure and come good with flying colors so what would he be doing here when we are already better w/ o him? What will he add that he couldn't add before he left? People are yet to offer any response to this and other pressing questions.