According to the latest reports, Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has advised the Merseyside club to welcome Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho with open arms back to Anfield in the summer transfer window. The Brazilian midfielder joined the Catalonian club back in the 2018 January transfer window for a staggering £142m transfer fee but has failed to make a massive impact at the Camp Nou.
Liverpool have enjoyed one of their most taxing Premier League campaigns ever since the club formed back in 1892. Jurgen Klopp’s side finished 2nd on the League table just one point behind Manchester City as they amassed 97 points, a club record. Although it was not enough to end the 29-year long drought for a Premiership for Liverpool, they pushed one of the greatest sides in the League right down to the wire. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City stormed their way to the Premier League title last season as well when they amassed a record-breaking 100 points with no real competition but Liverpool ensured that this term would be different and took a title run into the last day of the season.
Liverpool also produced a stunning comeback against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals to make it through to the final in Madrid. The Reds were 3-0 down after the first leg at the Camp Nou but an inspired comeback prevailed on yet another special night at Anfield. Liverpool overturned the deficit to win 4-0 and make it through to the final two seasons in a row thanks to two braces from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum. Surprisingly enough, the Anfield faithful have not found themselves harmed by the void that Coutinho has left behind with his departure. The 26-year-old has failed to nail down a starting berth at the Camp Nou and made just 22 La Liga starts this season. Coutinho has also come under some heavy criticism from the La Blaugrana faithful due to his underperforming spell.
Former Liverpool star Phil Thompson has revealed that he would like it if Liverpool re-signed Coutinho from Barcelona this summer. Speaking to Sky Sports, the 65-year-old English pundit said, “I would take him back in a heartbeat, but it would have to be now. You do not want to leave it another 12 months; I think he still has the ability. He has suffered at Barcelona. We have seen him play out wide on the left, but he is not Neymar. He likes to be in the middle where he can pull strings and is getting on the ball to hurt teams. He does not do that and he is not a left-winger and that is where he is playing at Barcelona – they do not love him as Liverpool loved him.”
Philippe Coutinho for Liverpool across all competitions:
👕 201 games
⚽ 54 goals
🎯 44 assistsDo you see a return? pic.twitter.com/VgWBQ0GBfH
— SpOrTs ToWn. (@Sports_Town21) May 20, 2019
Coutinho’s mega-money move to Barcelona has won him a few La Liga titles and a Copa Del Rey as well. The main reason he made the switch to the Catalonian capital was because of the Champions League and Liverpool are now in with another chance to win the elite European competition on the 1st of June, when they face off against their domestic rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
