It’s not been a good day for Liverpool fans. In fact, it’s been pretty traumatic.On Friday afternoon they were dealt an emotional hammer blow with the news that Philippe Coutinho has, indeed, decided he wants to leave Anfield.The Brazilian playmaker has submitted a formal transfer request via email after the Reds rejected a £90 million offer from Barcelona.

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It was revealed earlier this week that Coutinho was open to joining Barça this summer, provided they could reach an amicable agreement with Liverpool.

However, Coutinho’s current employers have no desire to sell him - regardless of the size of the offer - and have subsequently left the South American with no choice but to hand in a transfer request.

Liverpool have also rejected Coutinho’s transfer request, with the club’s owners insisting their “definitive stance” is that “no offers will be considered”.

But the opportunity to replace Neymar at Barça, playing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez while competing for club football’s most prestigious trophies, isn’t one Coutinho will want to miss out on.

Riise issues a measured response on Twitter

While many Liverpool fans on social media are already turning against Coutinho, the club’s former left-back John Arne Riise has issued a measured, thoughtful response to the news on Twitter.

First of all, he didn’t seem particularly surprised…

He then seemed a bit annoyed that this bombshell had been dropped on the eve of Liverpool’s first Premier League match…

Then he began to see Coutinho’s point of view…

And urged fans not to hate him…

Before conceding that Coutinho could have handled this situation better…

Riise is spot on

It’s hard to argue with Riise here.

Although Coutinho can be forgiven for wanting to join Barcelona, did he have to submit a transfer request 24 hours before Liverpool face Watford?

Isn’t the timing extremely unfair on his teammates?

We guess he doesn’t particularly care anymore. He wants to join Barça, but will Liverpool eventually grant him his wish?