Report: Liverpool calls Barcelona's Coutinho comments 'absolutely false'

Liverpool is apparently having none of Barcelona's attempt to save face amid the fury of its upset fan base, denying that the Reds slapped a €200-million price tag on Philippe Coutinho.

Liverpool sources told Chris Bascombe of The Telegraph that Barcelona's claim is "absolutely false" and "not true in any way, shape or form," adding that while Barcelona did attempt to contact Liverpool's owners on deadline day, the Reds had no desire to negotiate and didn't give any price.

Barcelona director Albert Soler shared details of the failed move with reporters Saturday as he was grilled for a disastrous summer that saw Neymar leave. Despite adding Ousmane Dembele to its ranks, Lionel Messi's unsecured future and a failed move for Coutinho have the board in hot water.

Soler pinned the blame on Liverpool, stating, "At the last minute, after weeks of offers and conversations, Liverpool put a price on a player that we wanted. (It was) a price of €200 million and we decided not to do it."

The Reds insist they never budged from the hard-line "not for sale" stance they've maintained on Coutinho since he was first linked with a swap to Camp Nou.