Jurgen Klopp has two games in nine days that will go a long way to deciding the destiny of Liverpool’s season, yet everywhere he goes at the moment he is followed by the name of Philippe Coutinho, the man who is not here in Germany to help plot a safe path into the Champions League group stage.

In Germany, where Liverpool arrived yesterday, Klopp is treated with reverence, especially at a club which will play its first ever European tie in the Champions League play-off at the Rhein-Neckar Stadium tonight. There is excitement at the home of Hoffenheim at a famous opponent and a famous returning son of Germany, although Klopp is in no doubt he faces a challenge as serious as any an English club has had at this stage.

In Sinsheim, where the village team of Hoffenheim play their games in their 30,150-capacity stadium, Klopp moved to dispel any doubt that he and Fenway Sports Group, the club’s owners, are on the same page when it comes to keeping Coutinho, absent with a back injury.

There is no question the club’s No 10 wants to go to Barcelona, who bid £90 million at the last time of asking. The only issue now is how hard the Brazilian is prepared to push it before the window closes.