Liverpool's season has begun in cavalcade: a 3-3 draw away to Watford which once again showed their frailties on set pieces and their generally hopeless defence: something Jamie Carragher took a scalpel to on Sky Sports at half time.
After the game, Jurgen Klopp was naturally asked about the future of Phil Coutinho, who missed the game through injury, a day after handing in a transfer request amid interest from Barcelona. The Brazilian reportedly turned up at Liverpool's training ground as scheduled today for treatment on his back injury, and despite the fact that the club issued a statement yesterday saying that all offers for Coutinho would be rejected.
Klopp's comments on the Coutinho situation were oddly cryptic, however. When asked about it on Sky, here's what he had to say:
Klopp comments on Coutinho
I cannot say a lot about it. What I can say is that I'm responsible for the whole team, and all these players, and I need to be focused on the players who are available. The players who are not available I have no influence on. I have to accept decisions from owners, that's how it is. And sometimes from players. At this moment, I'm just concentrating on my team.
These Klopp comments on Coutinho, particularly the line "I have to accept decisions by owners" are those you would associate with a man who has been told that it is out of his hands, and that the owners may have decided to sell the player.
Should he leave, how can Liverpool replace him, given that they've failed to spend the money they already have? There are problems at Liverpool, and they face Hoffenheim in the Champions League qualifiers on Tuesday.
Follow all of the scores on Balls.ie this afternoon....exactly the way you want them:
