Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho returns to Anfield pitch but then asks Jurgen Klopp to bring him off

• The Brazilian star persuaded his manager to take him off near the end  
• Coutinho tried to force a move to Barcelona in the summer when he handed in a transfer request 
• He produced an excellent performance before coming off for Dominic Solanke 

By Joe Bernstein  SEP 16, 2017

Philippe Coutinho persuaded Jurgen Klopp to substitute him towards the end of Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Burnley after cramping up in his first Premier League match of the season.

The Brazilian who handed in a transfer request last summer to try and force a move to Barcelona was given a great ovation at Anfield after being restored to Jurgen Klopp's starting line-up.

He responded with an excellent display for 77 minutes when he forced the manager into a U-turn and take him off.

Klopp had originally wanted Coutinho to stay on the pitch and signalled for Roberto Firmino and James Milner to be withdrawn for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Dominic Solanke.

But after Milner's name had been read out over the tannoy, the former England international remained in Liverpool's midfield as Coutinho gestured he wanted to come off.

'Coutinho did well. He needs rhythm and was getting better as the game went on,' said Klopp afterwards.

When I was making the changes, he gave the thumbs up which I misunderstood, I thought he was OK. Then when the players got their drinks, he said it was maybe a bit of cramp so we thought it was maybe better to bring him off.'

Coutinho will be glad to get his first start out of the way after a summer of discontent in which Barca had a series of bids rising to £120million turned down by Liverpool.

He made several dazzling runs through Burnley's midfield and set up chances for Mo Salah and Daniel Sturridge. The only disappointment was his shooting with a series of long-range efforts going off-target.