5 longest serving players in the current Liverpool squad

#4: Philippe Coutinho – debuted February 11th, 2013

Philippe Coutinho remains a Liverpool player despite interest from Barcelona

Oh, this one could’ve been so different had Barcelona had their way in the summer. If that move had come off – Barca were supposedly willing to pay upwards of £100m for the Brazilian – then Liverpool would’ve made one of the biggest profits in football history for a player not brought through youth ranks, as they only paid an incredible £8.5m to bring him to the Premier League from Inter Milan. Crazy when you consider some of the fees being thrown around even back in 2013.

Coutinho has been nothing short of brilliant ever since arriving at Liverpool. He’s given them the classy touch in midfield that the side had missed ever since losing Xabi Alonso in 2009, and his style – heavy on dribbling, accurate passing, vision and long-range shooting has earned him the nickname The Little Magician from the Kop faithful. When Steven Gerrard departed the club, Coutinho became the focal point of the side and he hasn’t looked back, showing his class by becoming the highest Brazilian goalscorer in Premier League history.

How much longer Liverpool can hold onto him is anyone’s guess. Coutinho is contracted to the club – with no release clause – until 2022, and they certainly don’t need the money, but when Barcelona want someone they tend to get them and there can be no doubt they’ll come knocking again in the next couple of transfer windows. For now though, he claims he’s “ready to give his all” for Liverpool, and with his history who would doubt him?