Moreno Happy to Have Fully Committed Coutinho Back in the Liverpool Fold

The Spanish press may still be talking about a potential Champions League strike for Philippe Coutinho, one last ditch effort to get the move he wants to Barcelona even if it means sulking on the sidelines at Liverpool until January rolls around. Not everyone, though, sees things going that way.

One person who doesn’t is current teammate and friend Alberto Moreno, who has revived his own Anfield career this season and recently welcomed back the man he calls his best friend—who Moreno is certain will now give his all for Liverpool this season despite not getting the move he wanted over the summer.

“I missed him,” Moreno told reporters in a break from preparations for Wednesday night’s Champions League tie. “He’s probably my best friend at the club, so I was very happy to have him back. It was tough for him. He had a bad time but it’s over now and I know that he will give everything for Liverpool.”

Coutinho is expected to at least make the bench against Sevilla tonight, a first this season, and Mohamed Salah’s possible illness—he was sent home from training on Tuesday with a sore throat but Jürgen Klopp is hopeful he will be ready to play—could see him given a rather unexpected start.

There is also some uncertainty when it comes to Moreno, as after being Liverpool’s regular league starter there is a chance Klopp will deploy Andy Robertson in Europe, with the Scottish international having looked strong in limited duty and performing well for his country over the last international break.

Moreno, though, is hoping to get the nod—Sevilla, after all, is the club he grew up at, and he says that would make playing against them more special. He’s also got some unfinished business given many point to a poor performance against them in the Europa League the last time the two sides faced.

“I had a feeling we would draw them,” he noted. “I have to treat the game as just another European match, but facing Sevilla again will be special”