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Attendance: 53,292

Premier League

Apr 5, 2017 at 8pm UK

Liverpool
2-2
Bournemouth

Coutinho (40'), Origi (59')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Afobe (7'), King (87')

Jurgen Klopp explains Philippe Coutinho substitution

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 06 April 2017

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says that he substituted Philippe Coutinho during their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth because of illness.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that the substitution of Philippe Coutinho was not the reason for his side only drawing 2-2 with Bournemouth on Wednesday.

Coutinho had helped give the Merseyside giants a 2-1 advantage before he was withdrawn by Klopp due to illness but rather than make a like-for-like change, the Liverpool boss introduced Joel Matip.

Bournemouth went on to net a late equaliser at Anfield, but Klopp has insisted that the alteration was not directly responsible for his team failing to see out the game.

The 49-year-old told Sky Sports News: "He was the best player on the pitch, but he felt sick. Hopefully he is not really ill. That didn't help the game.

"It was too early for Daniel [Sturridge] at this time in the game. He has only trained once with the team and it was a really intense game. Divock [Origi] was really good so to bring on a second striker at that moment didn't feel right. We wanted to defend the result but counter as well. We are a bit more experienced in this.

"It was not because of the system that we drew, it was after a set piece, whichever system you play you have to defend this better."

Liverpool hold a six-point advantage in the race for a top-four place in the table, but both Arsenal and Manchester United have two games in hand.