Liverpool have coped admirably these past seven weeks but the sight of their star player on the bench will come as a cause for relief among all Reds fans.
Midfielder Philippe Coutinho suffered an ankle injury in a November Premier League clash with Sunderland and was ruled out for the rest of the year.
Coutinho missed all of Liverpool’s December fixtures, including the defeat against Bournemouth and draws against West Ham and Sunderland, but he is ready to reclaim his place as Jurgen Klopp’s key playmaker.
The Brazilian was named on the bench for Liverpool’s EFL Cup semi-final with Southampton, inspiring waves of excitement from supporters who were treated to a pleasant surprise as they read the team news.
@LFC DADDY COUTS ON THE BENCH!!!
— Shaan (@FirmiFatale) January 11, 2017
@LFC great to see Coutinho on the bench. Ready to be unleashed at old Trafford. #lfc
— lfcway (@lfcway) January 11, 2017
@LFC Sturridge starting and Coutinho makes the bench ? pic.twitter.com/klcSLbnHDH
— Dan Ev (@DannyEveringham) January 11, 2017
@LFC Coutinho on the bench ladssss
— . (@Bobby11Firmino) January 11, 2017
@LFC COUTINHO ON THE BENCH. IT’S HAPPENING LADS.
— Éirinn ? (@Cuteiinho) January 11, 2017
@LFC STUDGE AND COUTINHO TEARS IN MY EYES
— Justin Bieber News (@biebersgiIinsky) January 11, 2017
@LFC missing him badly… pic.twitter.com/VNswEM1GeW
— Ayden Yolam Liam (@AydenYolam) January 11, 2017
@LFC COUTINHOOOOOOOOOOOO
— Rayan ?? (@rayandeuxfois) January 11, 2017
STURRIDGE STARTS. COUTINHO BACK IN THE LINE-UP @LFC pic.twitter.com/SASLkUCpaN
— Éliane Abi-Sleiman (@ElianeA_S) January 11, 2017
@LFC COUTINHO MY BABY
— KS (@mxgnolet) January 11, 2017
@LFC Coutinhoooooooo ? pic.twitter.com/kWVjxYAfJx
— Reds LFC | YNWA (@Reds__Liverpool) January 11, 2017
@LFC Nice To Have My Number 1O Back #Coutinho
— MzaMorournè_Montana (@MzamoMontana) January 11, 2017
@LFC the magician is back
— omar adel (@lfcweedmaster) January 11, 2017
@LFC Hopefully Coutinho will get some game time today, even if only for 10 minutes.
— 0Bennyman (@0Bennyman) January 11, 2017
@LFC COUTINHO FINALLY??????
— Christothea.20 (@christy_au79) January 11, 2017
@LFC COUTINHO’S BACK LETS THROW A PARTY
— Jake Wyman™ (@Jakey_Boyz) January 11, 2017
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