Daniel Sturridge’s late glancing header snatched a point for Liverpool as they played out a six-goal thriller with Everton in a pulsating Merseyside derby.

Coutinho prodded the Reds in front on five minutes only for Kevin Mirallas to bring Everton level three minutes later, but Luis Suarez’s superb curling free-kick ensured the visitors led at the break.

Romelu Lukaku struck twice in the final 20 minutes to put Everton on course for a stirring comeback victory, but substitute Sturridge connected with Steven Gerrard’s free-kick to ensure the spoils were shared.

More to follow…

The attacking midfielder was forced to play a bit-part role at San Siro and says that he “didn’t think twice” about the chance to move to Anfield in January

Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho says that he does not regret his move to the Premier League after a troubled stint at Inter.

The 21-year-old spent three seasons at San Siro, with his arrival in Milan coinciding with the club’s fall from grace after five consecutive Serie A titles and a Champions League crown.

Coutinho concedes that it did not work out for him at Inter but argues that the depth of the Nerazzurri’s strength in depth made it tough for him to get regular game time.

“Jose Mourinho was the coach when I was preparing to join them but he left before I moved to Italy,” the Brazilian told The Daily Telegraph.

“It was a difficult period, strangely, because they had won the national championship five times and just won the Champions League, but the club was preparing for change.

“Benitez had just become the coach and he was prepared to give me opportunities straight away as a younger player but there were good players there who won a lot at the club – really good players – and things were not settled and it turned out not so good.

“I had a good relationship with Rafa; he was always very considerate towards me and gave me a lot of confidence. He cared a lot about all the younger players at Inter.”

Coutinho “didn’t think twice” about a switch to Anfield when the opportunity presented itself in January and he has since flourished with the Reds.

“Sometimes you can be a good player at a good club and for some reason it just does not work out,” he remarked.

“There is no explanation for it. Then you move to another club and it fits perfectly straight away and you feel comfortable.

“I had some chances at Inter but, after a few years – certainly by the time Liverpool were interested – I was not getting many chances.

“As a footballer, all you ever want is the chance to play and show people how well you can play. I knew at Liverpool I would get that opportunity so I didn’t think twice.

“You look at a club and you see a top European team, with top players and top ambitions to win every major trophy, even if it will take time. I didn’t even have to think about the decision.”

The midfielder, on loan at Everton, “came very, very close” to leaving Aston Villa for Anfield, but Reds supporters were not keen on the Manchester City man replacing Xabi Alonso

Liverpool fans made it clear they did not want Gareth Barry to join the club in 2009, according to the former England midfielder.

Barry, who will line up for Everton in the Merseyside derby on Saturday having arrived at Goodison Park from Manchester City on loan, was tipped to move to Anfield as Xabi Alonso edged closer to a departure for Real Madrid.

But the transfer away from Aston Villa never materialised as Rafa Benitez instead opted to sign Robbie Keane from Tottenham.

“I was very, very close to joining Liverpool,” he told reporters. “I had told [Villa boss] Martin O’Neill I wanted to leave but ultimately they didn’t stump up the fee.

“The big thing with the Liverpool fans was that it looked like one of their favourites was leaving, in Alonso, and they looked at me as the reason for it. That’s fans I suppose, the fans heard he was leaving, I was coming in and put two and two together.

“I still remember watching a pre-season friendly and they made it obvious they weren’t keen on me coming in to replace him! He was a fantastic player and I can understand it.

“No-one knows what that move could have done for me, whether it would have been good for me and Liverpool, but there was nothing I could have done about it.

“But at the time they were in the Champions League regularly. I’d had a long spell at Villa and not experienced that. They were the only club showing an interest and I felt it would’ve been good for me, but in the end they chose to spend their money on Robbie Keane.”