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Philippe Coutinho stays loyal to Liverpool despite transfer talk

Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool.
Image: Philippe Coutinho scored 13 goals for Liverpool in the Premier League last season

Philippe Coutinho has reassured Liverpool fans that he has no intention of leaving this summer to become "just another" player at one of Europe's big clubs.

Coutinho signed a new five-year contract with Jurgen Klopp's side in January but is still continually linked with a transfer away from Anfield, with Spain or Germany the predicted destination.

However, the 24-year-old has dismissed recent reports as "speculation" and believes he can achieve greater success with the Reds in the Premier League than with another club in the Bundesliga or La Liga.

"Stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour," Coutinho told ESPN Brasil.

"Go somewhere else, to Barcelona, to Bayern Munich, to Real Madrid, and you will be just another player. Here you can be something more.

"I have a long contract with Liverpool. Speculation is for journalists only."

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Watch Liverpool v Middlesbrough highlights

The Brazil star scored against Middlesbrough on Sunday to help the Reds secure a top-four finish and Champions League football next season after a two-year break.

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"We started the season very well, I started well. But then in the middle, the performance regressed," added Coutinho.

Image: Coutinho has made 138 Premier League appearances for the Reds since joining from Inter Milan for £8.5m in 2013

"Then we bounced back, and I finished the season at a high level.

"The whole team is playing well. Sunday was a very important victory, and next season it's the Champions League."

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