Family members of Philippe Coutinho are publicly attacking Liverpool after the midfielder's transfer request was denied.

The Barcelona target personally submitted a transfer request yesterday, even as his manager Jurgen Klopp was insisting he would not leave, after a “definitive" statement from club chiefs declared he would be at Anfield when the window closes.

And in a carefully orchestrated move a statement was issued by an unnamed member of Coutinho's 'family', saying: “Philippe has tried very hard to find an amicable solution to this situation but to no avail. He has tremendous love for the club and its fans.

“But like Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez have pointed out in the past, Liverpool does not let its players leave on amicable terms."