Coutinho has been out with an injured ankle since the end of November

Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Philippe Coutinho is struggling to be fit for Liverpool’s heavyweight showdown with Manchester City on New Year’s Eve.

The Brazilian has been targeting the match with Pep Guardiola’s side for his comeback having damaged his ankle ligaments against Sunderland at Anfield on November 26.

However, the Liverpool manager’s latest medical bulletin on the mercurial playmaker was less positive and he will not take any risks with the player given Sadio Mané’s absence in January for the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Unfortunately we don’t have him [Coutinho] back in [team] training. He makes his own training and that is the big difference,” said Klopp. “We don’t have him in full training so there is no reason to think about when he