jimmylibel

If he does go, the precedent this is setting is what's really annoying me now. If all it takes is formal request, a briefing from a 'family friend' and the threat of further disruption to get a move, we can forget about hanging on to anyone who has their head turned in future.

Ha! Might have been an idea to start at the other end.

Some footage going around of one of the club shops taking down a poster of Phil in the new 3rd kit from their window display. As window refreshes go, maybe not the most opportune!

Diving in like he did for the second goal was exactly what he shouldn't have done in that situation. But it was also something you expect him to do every game.

Can't get over this either. He shouldn't be in the squad. He's a liability waiting to happen.

Some of the comments are ridiculous. But some of the critique has been long overdue too. He's not perfect, it's ok to analyse flaws.

Could be. May have been true yesterday too.

"We did everything we could to keep him, but Liverpool is bigger than any individual. We weren't prepared to keep a player who made it clear he wanted to leave and was disrupting morale." Potential line about "refusing to play" may also be added.

Some more comments from Klopp. “I've had no time to think about it today,” said the Reds boss. “I had to prepare for a match. “If I was upset, I'd tell the player himself. I didn't get it (the transfer request) but I can say something that's more important. “As a manager of a football club, I have bosses. That decide, for example, just in general, if we sell a player or we don't sell him. Then I have to accept it. “If they don't sell him, then I am not involved any more. I'm responsible for all of our players, not just one or two or three, but all of them. “I can't say anything about it, the only thing is I work with the players I have. That's what I'm always doing. “How can it change something for me? I didn't make the decision. “You have to ask the club. I didn't see the club insiders today. You have to ask them. “I don't think (it changes anything). It was pretty clear what the club said about it. That's all.” Asked if Coutinho had let down his team-mates with his request, Klopp added: “I am not part of the discussion with the group. “There are enough people who can talk about that. I'm not part of it.”

Depends on what his job is though. If we're just going to be giving players experience so as to sell them, Southampton have had some decent managers.

Certainly could be that too. That said I didn't get the impression Klopp was sounding too hopeful.

That's my reading of it. His agents don't want him picking up an injury that could scupper a deal. FSG probably want to protect the asset.

I don't think there are achievable signings that will soothe how pissed off most fans will be if they cave.

Was thinking the same

Depending in how you read Klopp's quotes, he/FSG aren't willing to risk him getting a knock.

Via the Echo... "I cannot say a lot about it. I am responsible for the whole team. The reasons why the players are not available I cannot have an influence on it. I have to accept decisions from owners, that's how it is. Sometimes players. That is how it is. I am just concentrating on my team."

Something along the lines of "I can only pick the players who are available" and then pretty much hinted that Phil had made himself unavailable for selection.

Not the unequivocal "He's staying" I was hoping for

We need the ball to stick up front more. For all his flaws Origi is probably our best option for that.

Was thinking that throughout all of last season. You don't need great players to defend well. You do need to be organised though.

Still reckon he'll get over it. It may take a few weeks but he'll have to buck up. The sums involved, at this stage, really don't matter. Premium payments all round for the remainder of the window for first team players.

Just to add some fuel to the fire, here's the latest from Balague... "After Neymar went, and not before, Barcelona identified Philippe Coutinho as a replacement. They reached a personal agreement with his agent. Since then, for the last two to three weeks, Coutinho has tried to make Liverpool understand that his dream is to play for Barcelona. He has been a Barcelona fan for a while, has become really good friends with Luis Suarez and he wants to move to the Camp Nou. "He has behaved very well, professionally, something admitted by the club itself, but something happened today that pushed him over the edge. "After Liverpool rejected the two offers from Barcelona, I have the impression that Coutinho felt another one may just make it. But, while he waited, he is feeling very agitated, according to sources in Brazil close to the player, despite the fact Barcelona were keeping their calmness, realising that they had to be patient with the whole saga due to its complexities. "Then, a little bit out of the blue, Liverpool decide they want to put out there that they don't want to sell him, and I feel that put him over the edge. He did not expect that, and he has snapped. "Coutinho is a nice guy, everyone who works with him knows that, but he has got in his mind that he wants to be a Barcelona player this summer and the disappointment of the Liverpool stand was so big that he reacted to it in the strongest way possible allowed to a player. He now "would do whatever it takes" to make the move possible, according to the same sources. "Normally when a transfer request has been handed in, with one submitted now in Melwood, clubs know that, sooner or later, the player is going to go. Whether it is this summer or the next summer after their unrest, players tend to get what they want. At that point, it really becomes a matter of money. I think that is what Coutinho thought it was going to happen this summer. He did not expect Liverpool to close the doors the way they have. "For Liverpool, it has logically become a football issue but also of pride, especially from Jurgen Klopp. Klopp wanted to show his authority by keeping the player - selling Coutinho gives a sign of weakness and makes the team worse. He also realises it is a bit late in the transfer window to replace him. But does it make sense to keep someone who does not want to stay and who will be sold for a higher fee that a 'normal' market situation would price him? "What is interesting is that Coutinho and Klopp have not had the best of relationships and more and more on that will come out in the next days. Coutinho has felt he has been placed all over the park, that he has been substituted a lot, and that Klopp hasn't used him to the best of his strengths. "I know that sounds like a typical story of unrest, especially after a transfer request, but I am assured Coutinho is unhappy that he hasn't been able to settle in a position and he has not finished as many games as he would like to finish. Excuses, many would say and I am sure that Liverpool would add, and rightly so, that is what happens in football, and managers can put players where they want, but I am expressing the feeling from the player who obviously wants to go to Barcelona but also who was not completely happy with how things are going at his club. "What a difficult position for the club. Liverpool would lose a massive asset should he leave, but what can a club do when a player makes his situation so clear? I know the transfer request doesn't force anyone to do anything, but it is difficult to see how Liverpool can manage to change Coutinho's mind."

Seems to be a bit of speculation that he is off on loan to various Championship clubs. Would imagine we'll let him go if we get our expected targets.

Including us and Arsenal based on the various speculative articles floating around.

Credit where it's due!