Liverpool insist that their resolve to keep Philippe Coutinho will not be broken despite mounting anger at the player trying to force a move to Barcelona by emailing a transfer request to club officials.

A third bid from the Catalan club, in excess of £100 million, is expected now that Coutinho has made clear his desire to secure a move to the Nou Camp.

Saturday’s Premier League match previews

His demand to leave was dismissed immediately and, after Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the club’s owner, issued a statement earlier in the day maintaining that the player will not be sold, the saga has now become a test of the willpower of Liverpool’s power brokers and Jürgen Klopp, the manager.

The development has completely overshadowed Liverpool’s preparations for today’s opening Premier