Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho says he and Luis Suarez will only be inspired to play better if the Manchester United crowd aim jeers at the former Liverpool duo in Wednesday's Champions League showdown at Old Trafford.
The Brazilian spent five years with the Reds, netting a number of impressive goals in 152 Premier League appearances for the Anfield side, while Suarez was named Liverpool's player of the season two years running during his own prolific time on Merseyside.
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Man Utd's intense rivalry with Liverpool is well documented, however, and Coutinho is bracing himself for a cacophony of boos when Barca take to the pitch in Manchester after having represented the Red Devils' most hated opponents for so long.
"If they boo
"Even more than that, it is an incentive to play better and be even more focused. I know that games against Manchester United are special, I learned that during my time at Liverpool when we lived it so intensely with the fans.
"I have that nailed in my memory and, even though this is a different stage, if Barcelona
While Coutinho's is eager to sink his former team's bitter rivals, a win could be bittersweet for the attacking midfielder due to the fact that progression for both Liverpool and Barca would see the two sides pitted against each other.
The Brazilian admits that he would have preferred to meet the Reds in the final itself if it had to happen, but says that he won't be holding back if he lines out against Jurgen Klopp's side as the Blaugrana chase the Champions League crown.
"I know that Liverpool supporters will be with us at United," he said. "But they know that later we could see them at Anfield and then, of course, I will be there with Barcelona wanting to win. It would be a dream to play at Anfield again, an explosion of different feelings, I’m sure.
"But I have to be honest and say I would have preferred to meet Liverpool only in the final itself."
