There was some good news for Liverpool fans this week as Philippe Coutinho signed a new contract to stay at the club till 2022. There were reports claiming that the Brazilian was a target for Barcelona in the summer but this deal should provide some hope to Liverpool fans that the former Inter Milan player would stay at Anfield for long.

The contract does make Coutinho one of the highest paid players at Liverpool and also there is no get out clause, meaning the Reds can ask whatever price they want should they sell him. There is no guarantee that Coutinho will stay at the club for long and that is exactly what Jamie Carragher said when speaking to Sky Sports. (via Telegraph).

“We’ve had plenty of players in the past Liverpool who have signed big contracts then moved on,” Carragher said ahead of Liverpool’s EFL Cup semi-final second-leg against Southampton, which the Reds lost.

“If Coutinho wasn’t happy he wouldn’t sign a contract. We hear there’s no release clause which again doesn’t mean everything.”

The former Liverpool defender added that when Real Madrid or Barcelona want to sign a player, it is very hard to say no to them.

“Liverpool are no different to every other club in world football besides two. If Barcelona or Real Madrid come for one of your players and pay what you want, they’re going, because 99 per cent of players want to play for those two clubs.

“If that happens, it means, if they’re unbelievable for Liverpool, then you have to thank him, as we did with Luis Suarez.”

Coutinho did start in the loss against Southampton and did have a couple of bright moments in the game but couldn’t get the side an important goal. This has been a disappointing time for the Reds and they would want to get back to playing their best.

Their next match is against Wolverhampton in the FA Cup and the home club have to be at their best if they want to avoid a similar performance as that against the Saints. Jurgen Klopp does have a tough task on his hands but he knows a player such as Coutinho can turn a match around in a second.

Liverpool also have to play Chelsea in their next Premier League game and if they harbour any hopes of a top four finish, they need to defeat the Blues, who seem destined for the title now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30LopWcC020