Philippe Coutinho was forced off the pitch with an illness against Bournemouth in mid-week and has missed a couple days of training because of it. Entering the weekend fixture against Stoke City, he was to be a match-time decision.
Liverpool really needed him because the club is truly limping toward the finish of the BPL season. In their come-from-behind win at Stoke today, the Reds were without several key players.
Liverpool got bad news earlier in the week, when it was announced that Sadio Mane was going to have season-ending knee surgery. Mane is Liverpool’s leading scorer this season. Adam Lallana, arguably the team’s best player, and Jordan Henderson, another key piece were out as well.
Coutinho not only played, he came up big. He came on the second half, despite losing almost seven pounds this week, and his gutsy appearance earned a lot of praise from Manager Jurgen Klopp.
“Philippe Coutinho lost three kilos in the past three days, which some people wish – but for a professional footballer it’s not too cool,” said Klopp.
“Simon Mignolet saved our life. Job done, feels good. Nice weather, 63 points and I couldn’t feel any better.”
Coutinho and company rallied from down 1-0 late in the first half to win 2-1 at Stoke and preserve third place in the table.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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