Liverpool hero who ignored Jurgen Klopp advice 'has contract ripped up' as Anfield legend proved right

Liverpool have entered their new era with Arne Slot but Jurgen Klopp’s time at Anfield will never be forgotten. In fact, the ex-Reds manager is once again the topic of conversation for some hard-hitting advice he gave to one of his former players.

Klopp managed a number of sensational talents during his time at Anfield, both inherited players and his own signings. While the meteoric rise of the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Virgil van Dijk will remain part of Klopp’s legacy at the club, it’s also worth remembering the impact he had on those who were already at Liverpool when he arrived.

Klopp helped transform Roberto Firmino’s game and the Brazilian went on to flourish into one of the club’s most loved and influential players. The boss wasn’t as convincing on Firmino’s compatriot Philippe Coutinho, though.

The magician who signed for the Reds from Inter Milan in 2013 for just £8.5 million, skyrocketed into the spotlight thanks to his efforts at Anfield. As a plucky 20-year-old with his career ahead of him, Coutinho quickly became one of the world’s most recognised playmakers. His ability to score goals effortlessly from long range is what really made him special but despite some stern advice from Klopp, it wasn’t enough to keep the Brazilian on Merseyside.

"Stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour," the boss told Coutinho in January 2018 as he was trying to orchestrate his dream transfer. "Go somewhere else, to Barcelona, to Bayern Munich, to Real Madrid, and you will be just another player. Here you can be something more."

Surely enough, Coutinho ended up playing for two of the teams mentioned by Klopp and the exact thing he was warned about happened. After the hype of his blockbuster £146 million move to Barcelona, it wasn’t long before the playmaker started falling out of favour. After his first full season in La Liga, Coutinho was shipped out on loan to Bayern Munich, who made it clear that they did not want to make the signing permanent.

Since then, the once widely sought-after attacker has continued to nosedive in his career. He joined Aston Villa for just £17 million after being reunited with Steven Gerrard but despite being back in the Premier League, he still looks a shell of how many remember him at Liverpool.

Now 32, Coutinho spent the 2023/24 season on loan with Qatar side Al-Duhail SC. He is due to return to Villa Park at the end of this month but he will soon be looking for yet another fresh start somewhere else. Both the player and Aston Villa ‘have agreed’ to terminate his contract once he returns from Qatar, according to journalist Bruno Andrade.

Just like Klopp warned him, Coutinho has struggled to establish himself at any of the four clubs he has moved to since he opted to leave Liverpool six years ago. Since then, the Reds have won the Premier League and Champions League, despite initial speculation that they would never be the same without the Brazilian.