Joyce: Philippe Coutinho will miss Friday’s FA Cup tie with Everton through injury as Liverpool wait for Barcelona to declare their hand in their pursuit of the Brazilian.
Coutinho missed the New Year’s Day victory over Burnley with a thigh injury and had a scan on Tuesday which revealed damage to the muscle. He was undergoing treatment at Melwood, Liverpool’s training ground, today.
Barcelona are readying a new bid for Coutinho, who wants to quit Liverpool this month, although it will take an offer in the region of €150 million [£133 million] for the club to consider selling.
It is understood Liverpool’s owner, Fenway Sports Group, will leave the final say on whether any bid is accepted to Klopp.
Mohamed Salah is also a serious doubt for the visit of Everton to Anfield, although he will fly to Ghana tomorrow along with team-mate Sadio Mane for the CAF Awards Gala in Accra.
Both players are due to return in time for the derby match with Klopp adamant they will be considered for selection if they are fit.
Liverpool selected their third-choice goalkeeper Danny Ward for their only other domestic cup tie this season, the Carabao Cup defeat to Leicester City in September.