23 Oct 2016

Bad News for Klopp: 'Brilliant' £69m Liverpool-duo could miss vital league game

Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino could miss Liverpool's upcoming Premier League clash against Southampton.

During the next international break, Coutinho and Firmino will fly to Brazil (and then onto Peru) for two World Cup qualifiers, and according to the Liverpool Echo:

"Liverpool have been making special arrangements to ensure that Coutinho and Firmino get back as quickly as possible [but] they won’t report back until the Thursday of that week, just 24-hours before [Southampton]".

Aaaagh. Another interminable international break, which will make it THREE in the first three months of the season.

How I wish the Premier League, and/or the FA would make a massive fuss over this tedious and continual disruption to the season, and pressgang UEFA to schedule international breaks in a less irritating manner. But, I digress...

Barring injuries to other players, Liverpool's squad is big enough to deal with absence of Coutinho and Firmino. Possible lineup without the Brazilian duo:

------------ Karius
Clyne -- Matip -- Lovren --- Milner
----- Can --- Hendo - Wijnaldum
-- Mane --- Sturridge -- Lallana

OR:

------------ Karius
Clyne -- Matip -- Lovren --- Milner
----- Can --- Hendo - Lallana
-- Mane ----- Origi -- Wijnaldum

Not too shabby.

* Coutinho: £40m-rated. Hailed as 'brilliant' by Klopp. Firmino: Cost £29m. Described as 'brilliant' by Paul Scholes.


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