Liverpool: Coutinho return date set; Klopp may be forced to buy German; award for defender

By Sam Leveridge

The Guardian claim that Phillipe Coutinho will miss around six weeks of action due to ankle ligament damage, keeping him out of the team until mid-January. However, some reports claim that the Brazilian is privately hoping to return in time for the New Years’ Eve fixture against Manchester City.

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The absence of the left sided forward will be harshly felt by the Reds with seemingly no like for like replacement in the squad, potentially giving an opportunity to the likes of Divock Origi or Daniel Sturridge.

That may spark Jurgen Klopp into action in the transfer market as the Daily Mail report that the injury to Coutinho may force the club to meet Borussia Dortmund’s asking price for American sensation Christian Pulisic, believed to be around the £25 million mark. The 18-year-old can play centrally or on either flank of a front three.

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With Coutinho out until mid-January, Danny Ings out for the season, Sadio Mane away at the African Cup of Nations from late January and question marks over Daniel Sturridge’s fitness, the Reds desperately need to add depth to their potent front line if they are to maintain their form.

Central defender Ragnar Klavan has picked up a prestigious award for the third year in a row and the fourth time in his career as he won the Estonian Player of the Year award with 56 out of 62 votes from the three man shortlist.

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The £4.2 million summer signing from Augsburg is now only two more awards away from equaling the record holder for number of times to have been awarded the trophy, former Arsenal goalkeeper Mart Poom. Klavan may be one of those to feature in tonight’s EFL Cup quarter final against Leeds after struggling for game time in recent weeks.

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