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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jake Polden

Philippe Coutinho opens up about happiness at Liverpool ahead of return with Barcelona

Philippe Coutinho has admitted he was very happy at Liverpool prior to his £142million transfer to Barcelona.

The Brazilian will return to Anfield for the first time since his 2018 transfer to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

Coutinho left the Reds under a bit of a cloud.

The midfielder made it clear he wanted out and even handed in a transfer request via email to push through a move.

Liverpool managed to keep hold of him in the summer of 2017, but they were eventually forced to let him go in January a few months later.

Philippe Coutinho has admitted he was very happy at Liverpool (Sportimage)

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Since Coutinho's transfer things have picked up for the Reds.

Liverpool reached the Champions League final last season and are in touching distance of a first Premier League title this campaign.

For Coutinho things haven't been as rosy, with the Brazilian struggling for form in Spain and even being linked with a move away from Barcelona.

Coutinho left the Reds under a bit of a cloud in 2018 (AFP/Getty Images)

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It's unclear whether Coutinho will start for the La Liga giants in their semi-final clash with Liverpool on Wednesday.

But ahead of the game the midfielder spoke about his former club on Barcelona's official website.

"I am really looking forward to playing in my first Champions League semi-final, and I want to do a good job," said Coutinho.

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"In addition, returning to Anfield will be very special, because I was very happy at Liverpool.

"The Champions League is our big objective and we have to have a strong mentality for these types of games.

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"Liverpool are a side with a very strong mentality, above all at home. They area great side in attack and defence, so we will have to be alert.

"They aren't only about a strong attack. They have a great side and Anfield has a magnificent atmosphere."

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