Scan Reveals Slight Hamstring Injury for Philippe Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho is on form and firing for but only lasted 68 minutes at the Etihad. The sight of a potential hamstring injury was troubling for Liverpool fans, and although manager Jürgen Klopp thought it wasn't a serious problem for his number ten, a scan was always going to provide a more definitive diagnosis.

The scan on Monday revealed that Coutinho has injured his hamstring, but thankfully the Brazilian shouldn't be out of action for a lengthy period of time. How many games he'll miss is unknown, but he's almost certain to miss Thursday's Europa League game against Bordeaux. Andy Hunter of The Guardian reported that "initial indications are encouraging", while James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo revealed that staff believe the player has "an outside chance" of featuring against Swansea City.

Coutinho's role in the victories away to Chelsea and Manchester City along with his importance in the squad make any news of an injury quite unwelcome, but if he is to miss a week of of action, Liverpool should have enough in Roberto Firmino, Adam Lallana, Christian Benteke, and Jordon Ibe to best Bordeaux and Swansea City at Anfield this week. Daniel Sturridge is lurking too.

Next week heralds a new month and present trips to Southampton (Capital One Cup) and Newcastle (Premier League) where Coutinho may make his return if he needs a week to recover. His understanding with Firmino appeared to deepen during an international break where both Brazilians were not needed by Dunga, and it's hoped that he can recover quickly to resume his talismanic role in Klopp's side.