Jurgen Klopp says Philippe Coutinho will forgiven his bid to move from Liverpool Liverpool...because he wanted to go to “Barcelona, not Everton”!

The Brazil star stayed at Anfield this summer despite a transfer request and returned to training this week after international duty.

Klopp said: “Everyone has this little bit of understanding and think ‘OK it’s Barcelona’ and it is not that he wanted to go to Everton.

"Then it would have been different I would say. Another wonderful club but a different situation.

"There was nothing. We spoke about it and it has nothing to do with the team, that is very important for all of us, it is nothing to do with fans and all that stuff.”

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Coutinho has been left out of the squad for today's lunch-time visit to Manchester City and has yet to play for the club this season with a back injury keeping him out while the transfer controversy swirled around him.

But the Liverpool boss made it clear he hasn't left Coutinho out because of any lingering ill feeling over his attempt to force a move to the Nou Camp.

Show Player

There was anger within Anfield about the timing of Barcelona's attempts to force Liverpool to sell Coutinho – with the most dramatic developments always arriving on the eve of a big game.

Yet Klopp insists that “nothing happened that was unforgivable”, and he explained the player would now be given the chance to prove he can become an inspiration again in the Reds team, if he shows the right attitude.

“There are so many really worrying things that are happening in the world at this time that you can be worried about all the time but this is nothing,” he added.

“You have to go through these times and things can be good if you are smart enough to start again.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

(Image: Liverpool FC)

“I can explain it a little: Maybe a few of you have had a split in a good relationship, with the wife or whatever, and it is not good to think about the time you were split.

“It was not the most easy time but that is the transfer window and that is the only time players and clubs can make transfers. But nothing I am aware of was unforgivable. It is a normal thing.

“It is not the first time and it won't be the last time in history when similar things will happen.”

While Coutinho will not be involved today, he will be brought back into the squad for the midweek Champions' League clash with Sevilla.