Liverpool drops Coutinho from Champions League squad

Barcelona are keen to sign Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho as replacement for Neymar

Philippe Coutinho has been left out of Liverpool’s squad for Tuesday’s Champions League play-off first leg against Hoffenheim.

The 25-year-old midfielder submitted a transfer request last week, days after the club rejected a 100 million euros (£90m) bid from Barcelona.

He missed Saturday’s Premier League opener with Watford with a back injury.

READ: Barcelona sign Brazilian midfielder Paulinho for €40m

Speaking after the 3-3 draw, boss Jurgen Klopp said he expected the Reds’ owners to refuse to sell the player.

Barca have moved for the Brazilian after selling compatriot Neymar to Paris St-Germain for a world record transfer of £200m.

The Reds in Hoffenheim. 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/Yef5B5U7qz

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 14, 2017

Coutinho signed a new five-year deal in January, which did not include a release clause.

Liverpool start their European campaign with the first leg at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena in Germany, with the return clash at Anfield on Wednesday, 23 August.

The winner will progress to the group stage of the Champions League.

Liverpool squad: Alexander-Arnold, Moreno, Lovren, Milner, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Can, Mane, Salah, Firmino, Kent, Solanke, Origi, Gomez, Klavan, Flanagan, Robertson, Matip, Grujic, Mignolet, Karius, Ward.

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Coutinho showed prodigious talent and excelled in Vasco da Gama’s youth system.

He was signed by Italian side Internazionale in 2008 for €4 million and subsequently loaned back to Vasco, where he became a key player.

He made his debut for Internazionale in 2010 and was seen as the “future of Inter”, but struggled to establish himself in the first team and was loaned to Spanish club Espanyol in 2012.

In January 2013, he was signed by English team Liverpool for £8.5 million.