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Sep 9, 2017 at 12.30pm UK
 
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Phil Thompson: 'Philippe Coutinho will be welcomed back'

Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson is confident that Philippe Coutinho will be welcomed back by the club's players and fans despite his efforts to leave this summer.

Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson has claimed that Philippe Coutinho will have no problem settling back into life at the club despite his efforts to leave during the recent transfer window.

Coutinho is understood to have asked for permission to join Barcelona this summer, with some reports suggesting that he was even considering going on strike in the Champions League in order to convince the club to sell.

However, the Brazilian returned to training today and Thompson does not foresee any problems with the players or fans taking exception to his behaviour over the summer.

"I don't think there will be any problems reintegrating him, particular with teammates. What people have to realise is that there's so much more forgiveness in the dressing room, it's more mickey taking than anyone calling him a traitor," he told Sky Sports News.

"A football club is very different to what people envisage and they are all a lot closer, regardless of nationality, and they'll all understand the appeal of Barcelona. It might take a quiet word from the manager to get his head right and I would think, because of the talent, the fans will take to him once again if there's the effort followed by the goods.

"I see him being on the bench against Manchester City, though. If everybody is fit and available after the international break then I think he'll go with the same team after the Arsenal performance and I think Coutinho will be expecting that."

Coutinho is yet to feature for Liverpool this season, having missed the opening three league games with a back injury.

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Philippe Coutinho receives a hug from manager Jurgen Klopp after coming off during the League Cup semi-final between Stoke and Liverpool on January 5, 2016
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


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