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Tuesday December 2

Coutinho strike

12.45: Philippe Coutinho has gone on strike at Liverpool as he tries to force a move to Barcelona this month, according to sensational reports in Spain.

Sport are claiming Coutinho will not wear the Liverpool shirt again and that his head is already in Barcelona.

Coutinho was left out of the squad for Liverpool’s match with Burnley on New Year’s Day after it emerged Nike were already selling Barcelona shirts with his name printed on.

Barcelona are preparing to make an approach this month during the January transfer window after seeing three bids rejected last summer.

Coutinho submitted a transfer request the day before the start of the season and didn’t play for Liverpool until the summer window was shut.

And now Sport are claiming he will not play for the club while talk of a move rumbles on.

It is said he does not want to put a move under threat by picking up an injury.

Thompson on Coutinho

12.05: Phil Thompson admits questions will be raised over Philippe Coutinho’s future due to the club’s low net spend under Jurgen Klopp and summer arrival of Naby Keita.

Coutinho is one of Barcelona’s top transfer targets and they are expected to use some of the cash they have left over from selling Neymar to bid for him this month.

Liverpool have no need to sell though and have built up significant cash reserves, despite their whopping £75m spend on Virgil van Dijk.

The Reds have agreed a deal worth more than £50m for Keita though, with the midfielder joining from RB Leipzig in the summer.

And Thompson has now raised doubts about whether Liverpool will keep hold of Coutinho given their finances and the fact Keita is coming in.

"Liverpool's net spend has not been high since Jurgen Klopp has been at the club and while it will raise the questions as to what will happen with Philippe Coutinho, especially with the Naby Keita deal agreed, the finances area is very strong at Anfield," he told Sky Sports.

Coutinho deal coming...

09.30: Barcelona could announce the signing of Philippe Coutinho this week, according to fresh reports from Spain.

Coutinho has been on Barcelona’s radar ever since the summer when three bids were rejected by Liverpool.

But Barcelona are ready to go in again and are confident of signing him this month.

And Don Balon claim the deal could be agreed in a matter of days and the signing made official this week.

The transfer window opened on Monday and Barcelona are expected to make an offer over £100m with some talk it could be as high as £150m.

Coutinho was absent from Liverpool’s New Year’s Day win over Burnley with Jurgen Klopp claiming he was injured.

Barca have Coutinho agreement

08.30: Barcelona reportedly have an agreement with Philippe Coutinho over a five-year contract.

But the Spanish side are STILL waiting for Liverpool to agree to sell the Brazilian playmaker.

Barcelona are desperate sign Coutinho after their efforts to sign him in the summer were rebuffed by Liverpool.

And the transfer saga took a fresh twist earlier this week when Nike advertised Barcelona shirts on their website featuring Philippe Coutinho's name.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, the Nike’s Coutinho reveal was a surprise to Barcelona.

But the report claims Barcelona have a five-year deal agreement with Coutinho, which was sorted last summer.

However, it is said their hopes of signing the 25-year-old remain on Liverpool opening the door to a potential £142million transfer.

Youth coach exit

08.15: Pepijn Lijnders has left Liverpool to take over as manager of NEC Nijmegen.

The youth coach leaves after three and a half years at Anfield.

And he wrote: “I could write for hours thanking the people at Liverpool who have helped me since I came here and the decision to leave has not been easy.

“In general terms I would like to thank all the amazing players and staff at Melwood and the Academy at Kirkby, who I’ve been privileged to work with. Also, at Anfield – that is such a special place with special people and I never took for granted going to work at one of the greatest stadiums in the world every other week.

“More specifically, I would like to thank Alex Inglethorpe, Michael Beale and Michael Edwards for the faith they showed in me, by giving me the opportunities here.”

Coutinho latest

08.00: Philippe Coutinho will cost Barcelona around £160m, according to Spanish journalist Alfredo Martinez.

Barca are keen to snap up the Liverpool star in a deal this January.

They had three bids rejected in the summer but will consider making another move this month.

But Martinez tweeted: “They tell me that the Price of Coutinho is € 140 M + 40 variables.”

Coutinho bid

07.45: Barcelona would need to make an astronomical offer to secure Philippe Coutinho this month, according to the Telegraph.

Barca are set to make an approach for the Brazil star after Nike claimed he was heading to the Nou Camp on their website.

"Philippe Coutinho is ready to light up Camp Nou,” it read. 

“Get your 2017/8 FC Barcelona kit with the Magician's name on it. Act fast - free personalisation only available until January 6."

But Liverpool are insisting he is going nowhere despite him missing the game with Burnley.

Van Dijk opens up

07.30: Virgil van Dijk has opened up on why he joined Liverpool.

The defender started at Melwood this week after agreeing to become the most expensive defender in the world.

And he admits Jurgen Klopp was a big pull.

"Everybody obviously from a Liverpool perspective knows how lively he is, how he can make players better and give them confidence. It just suits me as well," Van Dijk told Liverpoolfc.com

"I think he can make me a better player and I am just looking forward to working with him.

"Since he’s come in, I think he has made a lot of progress until now and I think it is only hopefully going to get better and better. Hopefully I can contribute to that as well and keep working hard.

"I think this is the right time for me to be here and to develop all sorts of aspects of my game.

"I am happy to be here and I can’t wait to get started. I think the most important thing is the size of the club, the culture of the club, the players, the manager and obviously the fans, who make the club this special.

"With the history at the club and everything around it – even the training ground and stuff – it is just a perfect, perfect match for me, and for my family as well."