How could Barcelona flop Philippe Coutinho fit in at Liverpool IF Jurgen Klopp brought the midfielder back to Anfield?

How could Barcelona flop Philippe Coutinho fit in at Liverpool IF Jurgen Klopp brought the midfielder back to Anfield?
Philippe Coutinho is currently at the bottom of a very low ebb in his career.After getting his dream move to Barcelona from Liverpool, the midfielder appears to have become an expensive mistake.Seen by many as the natural replacement for Andres Iniesta, Coutinho was booed by his own supporters after being booked against lowly Alaves.getty6

Philippe Coutinho has struggled during his 18-month spell at Barcelona

And it seems as though the 26-year-old has hit rock bottom.The 142million midfielder has asked to leave Barcelona this summer, according to Cadena SER.Coutinho has lifted two LaLiga titles since his lucrative move from Liverpool in 2018, but was subject to jeers from his own fans after a humiliating Champions League exit at Anfield last season. The Brazil international only managed five goals and two assists during the campaign and his future is said to be unclear.Cadena, however, reckon he has asked officials for a move to reignite his career.Given his relatively pleasant exit from Anfield, a return to Liverpool has been mooted by some sections of the press and now bookmakers.Former teammate Jamie Carragher even admitted he would be happy to see the former Kop idol return.Getty6Speaking to Liverpool Echo, he said: “I wouldnt say I would be actively going to get him, but if there was a possibility of bringing Coutinho back for decent money, and Barca wanted to cut their losses a little bit because it hasnt worked out, then Id do that.“Would he be welcomed back? Im not sure. But he should be. I dont see any reason why he shouldnt be.getty6

Coutinho was adored by the red half of Merseyside

“I know he got a little bit of stick when he came back (with Barcelona for the Champions League semi-final earlier this month) because he wanted to move.”So could Jurgen Klopp wrangle the little magician back into his side, or are Liverpool just too strong now without him?Below, talkSPORT.com looks at the potential ways in which Coutinho could slot into the European champion’s starting XI.

Back to basics

buildlineup.com6

Cutting in from the left, Coutinho was lethal for Liverpool during his five-year stint

Before leaving for Barca, Klopp deployed Coutinho on the left hand side of a 4-3-3 and granted him the freedom to drift inside and into a more conventional No.10 role.In doing so, it created space out wide for an overlapping full-back. This is the role he currently plays for Barcelona and it has helped Jordi Alba record a huge number of goals and assists as he uses his pace to rampage down the wing.Liverpool launch their brand new away kit for the 19-20 season While Andy Robertson requires very little encouragement to bomb forward and create, linking up with Coutinho again could grant the Scotland captain even more space out wide.However, unless Sadio Mane leaves this summer, there is simply no way Coutinho usurps him. The Senegal striker scored 22 goals in the Premier League last season and is in the running with Virgil Van Dijk for the Ballon d’Or.

Switch it up

buildlineup.com6

As well as Shaqiri played this season, Coutinho is a far better replacement

When Liverpool have found it hard to play against teams this season, it has tended to be against sides who have sat back and tried to frustrate the Reds. Given the pace they have up front, this is a savvy tactic.In order to combat that, Klopp would occasionally alter his side from an intense 4-3-3 to a more prosaic 4-2-3-1. In the central attacking role behind either Mohamed Salah or Roberto Firmino, Xherdan Shaqiri was entrusted with the conductor’s baton in an attempt to orchestrate the attack and create a crescendo in the opposition box.While Shaqiri performed admirably during his brief cameo appearances from the bench (most notably when he turned Man United into Swiss cheese back in December) Coutinho is a level or two above.But given’s Klopp insistence on playing 4-3-3 and implementing ‘gegenpressing‘ on the opposition, it begs the question; Would he spend so much on a Plan B?

The Wildcard

buildlineup.com6

Robertson and Alexander-Arnold would benefit massively from this formation

As mentioned previously, Klopp enjoys having a Plan B in his back pocket for when teams sit deep against the Reds. And it is not as if the German could ever be described as a ‘conformist’.The formation depicted above may look complicated, but it has been used by Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur for years. By having two disciplined central midfielders in front of a back three, it allows your attacking players to thrive.Furthermore, it grants your wing-backs the licence to bomb forward knowing there is cover behind them. Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Between them last season, they racked up an incredible 29 assists in 88 combined appearances in all competitions for Liverpool.With Coutinho and Roberto Firmino in behind either Salah or Mane, the Reds could be both unstoppable and impenetrable. A frightening prospect.

---

Alvaro Morata latest: Chelsea striker to have Atletico Madrid

---

Manchester United transfer targets: 8 players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could sign this summer With Solskjaer confirmed as permanent manager, he now needs to think about strengthening his squad
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns Manchester United players they

---

Tottenham vs Liverpool: Ray Parlour explains why Dele Alli should be DROPPED for Champions League final Ray Parlour insists Tottenham must pick Lucas Moura ahead of Dele Alli for the Champions League final against Liverpool following the Brazilian's heroics at talkSPORT 1 week ago Also reported by •Daily Star •The Age
Should Dele Alli be dropped for the Champions League final

---

Montenegro charged by Uefa over racist abuse directed at England players when Montenegro coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic insisted he had heard nothing and added he did not "see the reason why I
Ian Wright hits out at 'embarrassing' Uefa after racist

---

'Simply the best' - Tottenham fans and former player Ossie Ardiles marvel over new stadium at Spurs Legends v Inter Forever match Written by: fpnews Posted on: March 31, 2019 Tottenham's slick new stadium saw its first piece of football last weekend and it wowed all those who attended including talkSPORT's Ian Abrahams, who labelled
'Simply the best' - Tottenham fans and former player Ossie
hollywoodadviser.com/simply-the-best-tottenham-fans-and-former-player-ossie-ardiles-marvel-over-new-stadium-at-spurs-legends-v-inter-forever-match/
WHAT A SIGHT The second test event saw saw Tottenham Legends take on Inter Forever and the Spurs faithful and Ardiles took the opportunity to gush about the club's new home Tottenham's slick new stadium saw its first piece of football last weekend and it wowed all those who attended including talkSPORT's Ian Abrahams, who labelled it the best stadium he's ever been to.
'Simply the best' - Tottenham fans and former player Ossie

---

Manchester United will have a decision to make whether to go for Maddison or not. He is a very talented player that can still improve a lot and we will see more of him at the UEFA U21 Euros this June. Spending too much on him could be a risk, mostly because it is unknown which system will Solskjaer use.
James Maddison urged to REJECT Man Utd as it - express.co.uk

---

Aaron Wan-Bissaka 'tells Crystal Palace he wants to join Manchester United' as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has heart set on English full-back Manchester United remain determined to land Aaron Wan-Bissaka this summer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has his heart set on him despite failing with a £40m bid The English player
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: Manchester United target confirms he will

---

Manchester United have tumbled would Jose Mourinho have done differently to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer And it's not good news. Solskjaer has not yet come up with a way of taming opposition
Jose Mourinho's future: What next after his Manchester United

---

Liverpool vs Bayern Munich: Thomas Muller fails to reduce two

---

Sadio Mane transfer latest: Guillem Balague says reports of Liverpool striker moving to Real Madrid are 'basically dead' Sadio Mane's reported summer transfer from Liverpool to Real Madrid is 'basically dead', according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague. Recent reports have claimed Los Blancos will try to..
Liverpool's Sadio Mane & Real Madrid - Best-football-news
best-football-news.com/liverpools-sadio-mane-real-madrid/
Liverpool's Sadio Mane & Real Madrid The Spanish press have been crowing that Real Madrid want to sign Liverpool's Sadio Mane during the international break. There's now a renewed optimism around Los Blancos after a dire season. Zinedine Zidane's return has boosted the club, although turbulent times may still be ahead.
Liverpool news: Sadio Mane asking price set amid Real Madrid

---

Reece James: Chelsea fans stunned as wonderkid puts in

---

Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Jadon Sancho praised by fans for

---

There had been a lot of talk of a change of formation from the 4-3-3 to the 4-2-3-1 to accommodate both the central midfielders, and in a way it was the way the Blues set up without the ball. Kante was tucked right in next his midfield partner, but would break out to get the ball.
Chelsea vs Man United probable XIs: N'Golo Kante out of

---

This season's final will be the seventh one-country final in Champions League history, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp having already appeared in the fourth with Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich in 2013, Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld having played in the fifth for Atletico Madrid against Real Madrid the following year.
Michael Carrick - Wikipedia

---