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Jordan Henderson says Jurgen Klopp never actually wanted to sell ‘unreal’ player at Liverpool

Charles Jones

Thu 17 April 2025 10:45, UK

Liverpool have had to say goodbye to some of their biggest stars in recent years.

Indeed, while the Reds have been wildly successful in recent times, there have been some high-profile departures from Anfield.

Luis Suarez left Liverpool in a manner that Robbie Fowler didn’t like, Sadio Mane swapped Liverpool for Bayern Munich back in 2022, while Roberto Firmino said goodbye to Anfield in 2023.

Even now, Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to leave Liverpool and join Real Madrid.

However, perhaps the most high-profile departure at Liverpool in modern times was Philippe Coutinho’s big-money move to Barcelona.

Speaking on , Coutinho and Jordan Henderson have been discussing the Brazilian’s move to Spain, and according to Henderson, Jurgen Klopp never wanted this move to happen.

• READ MORE: What Kevin De Bruyne has already said about Liverpool as report suggests shock move could actually happen

Jurgen Klopp didn’t want to sell Philippe Coutinho

Henderson and Coutinho spoke about the Brazilian’s move to Barcelona.

Coutinho reiterated that he really wanted to leave Liverpool in that January transfer window, but Henderson believes that Jurgen Klopp never wanted him to leave.

Coutinho was one of Liverpool’s best players around that time, and letting him leave must’ve stung.

“We had loads of conversations, and at that time I really wanted to go to Barcelona,” Coutinho said.

“I think Jurgen would’ve preferred to keep him, he was such a big part of what we were trying to do at the time. Which is why the transfer fee would be so high,” Henderson said.

Why Jurgen Klopp won’t regret selling Philippe Coutinho

Klopp didn’t want to sell Coutinho, but receiving a club-record fee for the midfielder was perhaps the best thing to happen to the Reds at that time.

Indeed, the record fee freed up plenty of cash for Liverpool to re-invest, and the Merseyside club would go and sign Virgil van Dijk and Alisson with that cash.

Jamie Carragher hailed Liverpool for how they spent this cash, making a similar point about Tottenham potentially selling Harry Kane.

“When Tottenham fans lamented the different direction of their club last weekend, here is what happened; Liverpool sold their best player two months after losing 4-1 to Spurs in 2017, reinvesting to make their side better,” Carragher said.

“Had Barcelona bid £150 million for Harry Kane in January 2018, would Spurs have accepted to sign Van Dijk and Alisson?

“The form of Coutinho, or even Emre Can, since they stopped working under Klopp underlines the manager’s influence. Coutinho looked like one of the world’s best at Anfield. Less so since he left.”

Coutinho didn’t have a great time at Barcelona, and Liverpool could’ve re-signed Coutinho at one point, but, the reality is, the Reds didn’t need him as they evolved into a more well-balanced team without him.

Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the world in the eyes of some, while Alisson is the world’s best in his position too.

Liverpool have won every trophy there is to win since selling Coutinho, and this transfer played a huge part in making the Reds the powerhouse they remain to this day.

Coutinho was an ‘unreal’ player at his best, but you’re better off having a balanced team rather than just one standout star player.