Liverpool and Man City meet at the Etihad this weekend, and the two clubs have paid for a private jet to get their Brazil internationals back in good time for the game.
The two sides face each other on Saturday lunchtime in a mouthwatering Premier League clash, but international commitments will see players return at various times this week.
Both Liverpool and City have Brazilians in action against Colombia on Tuesday night, with Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino expected to be involved.
Gabriel Jesus, Ederson and Fernandinho are also in the squad for the Selecao, and have all been prominent figures for Pep Guardiola’s side so far this season.
In order to get their star men back in decent time ahead of Saturday’s much-anticipated match, the two clubs, and Chelsea, have clubbed to together to pay for a private plane to fly them back.
The quintet of players, along with Chelsea‘s Willian, will head home as soon after Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier as possible, and are scheduled to return to England on Wednesday morning.
So much of Saturday’s build-up is likely to revolve around Coutinho, whose Liverpool future was up in the air all summer long, with constant links to Barcelona.
Reports from Barcelona-based newspapers on Tuesday claim the Reds’ No.10 is considering refusing to play in the Champions League for Liverpool as it would mean he would be unable to play in the competition should a move to the Nou Camp arise in January.
Jurgen Klopp is never one to forgive ill-disciplined players too quickly, and given the Reds’ form without Coutinho, he may have to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench – at best.
Fan Comments