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The 32-year-old is now back playing in Brazil with Vasco Da Gama after stints with Bayern Munich, Aston Villa and Al-Duhail also did not live up to expectations.

Henderson admits Liverpool would have preferred to retain Coutinho, but believes it was the right move for the midfielder at the time.

READ MORE:Philippe Coutinho gives brutally honest take on career after Liverpool - 'I just wasn't able to'READ MORE:Dominik Szoboszlai makes Arsenal admission as Mikel Arteta sends warning to Liverpool

However, he also shared his surprise at his former team-mate’s decline as he suggested the timing did not pay off for the Brazilian.

“I think Jurgen (Klopp) would’ve preferred to keep him, he was such a big part of what we were trying to do at the time,” he said.

“Which is why the transfer fee would have been so high.

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“In the end I think for him it was the right thing to do at that moment in time.

“Would I have expected more in terms of longevity and things like that?

Messi left and Iniesta left, maybe just the timing of Phil, when he went there, wasn’t the best.”

Meanwhile, Henderson defended the Brazilian, insisting he had a big influence on the Premier League as he highlighted Coutinho as one of his favourite team-mates.

“Obviously (when he) came from Inter Milan, you watch a little bit on the clips and stuff before you sign him and when you sign him,” he recalled to Premier League Stories.

“He looked very skilful.

“It was just how he would adapt to the team, to the league.

You could see he was hungry to show people what he could do.

“I still think he had a big influence in the Premier League, definitely.

And now still to watch him play in Brazil, he’s still doing things that I saw him do 10 years ago.

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“I am very honoured and privileged to have been able to be part of his journey and play with him for as long as I did.”


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