A back injury sustained in pre-season could keep Coutinho out of Liverpool’s trip to Watford

Philippe Coutinho is a doubt for Liverpool’s opening Premier League fixture at Watford after sitting out training again with a back injury.

Coutinho’s absence from today’s session at Melwood comes with Barcelona continuing to circle the player, who is attracted to a move to the Nou Camp.

There have been suggestions from Spain that a delegation from Barcelona has met Liverpool officials this week, and that a deal is close for the 25-year-old, but the reports are being met with ongoing bemusement at Anfield.

Liverpool’s position remains that the player is not for sale even with Barcelona prepared to reinvest a swathe of the proceeds of Neymar’s record-breaking £198 million move to Paris St Germain by bidding £120 million for Coutinho.

Jürgen Klopp’s primary concern