LIVERPOOL -- Jurgen Klopp has told a new conference he has "nothing to say" about the future of Philippe Coutinho.

Coutinho, again being linked with a move to Barcelona, will miss Liverpool's FA Cup tie against city rivals Everton on Friday night.

Liverpool turned down three bids from Barca for Brazil playmaker Coutinho last summer and the 25-year-old did not play in August with what the club diagnosed as a back injury.

He sat out the New Year's Day win at Burnley with a "minor" thigh injury that Klopp said meant he would not face Everton at Anfield.

And asked about the Barcelona links, the manager said: "All the things I could say now would only create stories -- you write the stories anyway -- so I have nothing to say about it.

"It's the transfer window, that's all. I know already I opened the door halfway because I mentioned that it's the transfer window, but there's nothing to say what would help me, or the player or the club."

Asked whether he had to consider the possibility that he may lose Coutinho, Klopp replied: "Whatever you can consider, obviously, is not my cup of tea, sorry to say that -- it sounds a little bit harsh -- but I am not interested in that as well.

"Really nothing to say about it. Maybe 80 percent of the cameras are only here for these answers. That's a waste of time, then."

However, Klopp said Coutinho could be in contention to return against Manchester City on Jan. 14.

"I think he's in the bunch of players available for the City game," he said. "Yeah, I think so."

Philippe Coutinho is again being linked with Barcelona. PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images

Mohamed Salah, who will fly to Ghana for the CAF Awards on Thursday, has also been ruled out the Everton tie due to a groin issue.

"Mo and Phil are not big injuries to be honest, but it's only a week," Klopp added. "We were quite lucky when I heard about the diagnosis and when they are back.

"We were lucky because usually in this period of time when you get an injury and you're out four or five weeks, it's like 20 games.

"But now it's only two games and nobody wants, especially with the cup game, nobody wants that but we cannot change that."

Defender Virgil van Dijk could make his Liverpool debut against Everton, with Loris Karius set to play in goal.

Klopp said he would pick the "strongest lineup" for the cup tie, adding: "Mo and Phil aren't available, so that's not possible. With Virgil, it's different. We have to see.

"Obviously, he's healthy. Now I have to make decision for this game and it's not finally done.

"It's clear that centre-half is usually a position that needs to be tuned to the rest of the team. But of course, I can imagine everyone is desperate to see him on the pitch.

"But, how I said before, from our point of view, there's no rush in this situation. It's much more important how many good games he can play for us [rather] than when it starts. We have to wait a little bit for last updates on each position and then we make a lineup.

"The lineup will be a lineup which shows all the respect I have for the FA Cup. I know a few people said I didn't respect cup competitions, but that's not the truth. Maybe we have to make it a little more obvious."