The Little Magician won’t pull a disappearing act

He relishes the opportunity to become a legend in the Premier League over just becoming another player at a club like Barcelona.

The 2016-17 Premier League season was an unmitigated success for Liverpool. Top four was achieved, new signings including Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum hit the ground running, and a number of tantalising prospects (Ben Woodburn and Trent Alexander-Arnold, just to name two) emerged from the youth teams. Fans and pundits alike have enjoyed saying throughout the season that the ‘Klopp revolution’ is in full effect. As a lifelong Liverpool fan, there’s something else from the season that has proven to be the most pleasing of all.

In the last 20 years, Liverpool fans have become accustomed to seeing their best and brightest leave the club in search of trophies. From Luis Suarez to Raheem Sterling to Xabi Alonso, the list of departed talent is particularly painful. The club has nurtured stars into world-class players, only to see them go as they hit their peak. If his recent comments are to be believed, however, it looks like this trend may finally be broken by the club’s latest star, the ‘Little Magician’.

Philippe Coutinho was bought from Inter Milan in 2013 for a meager £8.5 million fee. Now? Liverpool wouldn’t be tempted to let him go for anything less than £50 million (and likely significantly more than this). When healthy, he has been a dynamo this season. With 13 goals and 7 assists he was central to everything Liverpool did while he was on the pitch. Unsurprisingly, reports have now been linking him to a move away from the club, most regularly with Barcelona as the target. After Liverpool’s final game of the season however, speaking with ESPN Brazil, Coutinho reaffirmed his desire to stay at Liverpool. He relishes the opportunity to become a legend in the Premier League over just becoming another player at a club like Barcelona. While you would expect a player to appease their fan base regardless of true intentions, Coutinho’s words sounded genuine and reflect the ongoing commitment he has had towards the club.

After Liverpool’s final game of the season, however, speaking with ESPN Brazil, Coutinho reaffirmed his desire to stay at Liverpool. He relishes the opportunity to become a legend in the Premier League over just becoming another player at a club like Barcelona. While you would expect a player to appease their fan base regardless of true intentions, Coutinho’s words sounded genuine and reflect the ongoing commitment he has had towards the club.

These are the most promising comments heard from a key player in years. More than anything, Jurgen Klopp has been able to cultivate an environment where the club can be seen as a final destination for the very best talent, rather than being the last stepping stone there. If the club is to return to the pinnacle of European football it has to be able to retain its best talent. That’s why this culture shift is so crucial. With promised reinforcements coming this summer transfer window, Liverpool has to continue to build on what they already haveto ensure that top four is the bare minimum every season.