Philippe Coutinho will miss the FA Cup third-round derby against Everton on Friday as he continues to receive treatment on a thigh injury.
Liverpool’s influential playmaker, who hopes to join Barcelona this month, missed the New Year’s Day win at Burnley through injury and the manager, Jürgen Klopp, said afterwards that the Brazil international was “at least a doubt” for the FA Cup tie at Anfield. Liverpool are now resigned to being without him against their Merseyside rivals, however, with the 25-year-old continuing to feel the effects of the thigh problem.
Coutinho was at Melwood on Wednesday to receive further treatment on his thigh. Mohamed Salah, who also missed the Burnley win and will travel with Sadio Mané to Ghana for the African Footballer of the Year awards on Thursday, remains a doubt.
Liverpool are braced for a new offer from the Spanish league leaders for the Brazilian but it will take a figure of around £130m for the Anfield club to consider his transfer. A deal could be agreed this month that would allow Coutinho to realise his wish of a move to Barcelona in the summer but the player’s preference is for a January transfer.
Barcelona’s manager, Ernesto Valverde, mentioned on Wednesday his admiration for Coutinho but said he was more focused on his own squad. “He plays on another team, he’s a good player and we do not know what will happen in the future. The ones that worry me most are the ones I have right now,” Valverde said. Asked again about Coutinho, he replied: “I have nothing to say about Coutinho; we respect that he is in another club.”
