Darren Stanton is a specialist in analysing the small tells and gestures which reveal what people truly mean.
Stanton has today put Liverpool boss Klopp under the microscope after being shown footage of him batting away questions about Coutinho.
Klopp was questioned about Nike advertising Coutinho shirts for sale on their official website. Nike sponsor both Coutinho and Barcelona.
A dismissive Klopp replied: “I heard about it. I couldn’t be less interested in anything in the world.”
But Stanton says that the German really is bothered and he is doing his utmost to portray that he isn’t.
SKY SPORTS
Jurgen Klopp is “disappointed” amid the Philippe Coutinho saga, says a body language expert
Stanton exclusively told Express Sport: “Although this is a short clip, it’s quite revealing.
“As humans we can have hundreds of emotions however it has been discovered that the human face tends to just flash seven – happy, sad, anger, surprise, fear, contempt and disgust.
“When the human face shows an emotion, it flashes it for less than a fifth of second so you have to be quick. We call these micro expressions.
“When assessing someone I’m looking at how body language is working alongside what is being said and how they are saying it.
GETTY
Philippe Coutinho wants to leave Barcelona to join Liverpool
“This is a great piece of footage because it shows Klopp trying at great length to play down the fact that he is clearly affected at the prospect of losing Coutinho.
“He said he couldn’t be less interested in the Nike report but he shows what is called a bilateral shoulder shrug – or in other words, he lifts his right shoulder slightly.
“The significance of this is when we want to show indifference we tend to shrug both shoulders. Except this gesture is a half attempt at trying to convey that he truly isn’t bothered when in fact he is.”
In the footage, Klopp tells a packed press conference “somebody told me and I thought ‘wow’ – top story” when asked about Nike’s website blunder.
Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona: What shirt number could Liverpool ace take?
Tue, January 2, 2018
Which squad number could Philippe Coutinho take if he moves from Liverpool to Barcelona during the January transfer window?
1 of 7
What shirt number could Philippe Coutinho take if he moves to Barcelona?
He adds he then can’t talk about it anymore – something Stanton believes is a tell-tale sign he is disappointed.
Stanton – who posts at @DarrenStanton on Twitter – added: “He says he can’t talk about it? Is this a Freudian slip? If it’s just a rumour what is there that he cant talk about?
“He also says he couldn’t be less interested in anything in the world which seems to a big statement and disproportionate.
“It’s like when people say ‘I swear on the the lives of my children’ – it’s too big a gesture for the topic.
“He then gives a few nods to reinforce or make what he is saying more convincing.
“I think overall it’s more disappointment with him, I saw no anger micro expressions just someone trying to mask their true emotion of disappointment.”
BBC
Darren Stanton is one of the leading body languages experts in Britain
Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona timeline
2013
30 Jan: Philippe Coutinho joins Liverpool from Inter Milan in an £8.5m deal.
2016
Summer: Barcelona first emerge as a serious suitor for Coutinho, although Paris Saint-Germain appear most likely to register their interest.
2017
6 Jan: Jurgen Klopp issues statement telling Barcelona to forget about signing Coutinho. “We never had any ideas or plans or any talks about him leaving,” Klopp said.
25 Jan: Coutinho signs a new five-year contract at Liverpool. The deal is meant to end Barcelona’s interest in the Brazilian, who will earn £8m a season.
April: Liverpool insist Coutinho is not for sale at ANY price.
1 July: Summer transfer window opens. Bookies install Barcelona as favourites to land Coutinho.
4 Aug: Barcelona reluctantly sell Neymar to PSG in a £200m hostile transfer.
9 Aug: Liverpool reject Barcelona’s first bid of £90m for Coutinho. A second bid is also snubbed.
11 Aug: Coutinho hands in transfer request.
12 Aug: Coutinho makes himself unavailable for Liverpool’s season opener at Watford. He effectively goes on strike.
18 Aug: Liverpool reject a third bid of £114m for Coutinho.
23 Aug: Barcelona consider £138m bid for Coutinho but it is never made.
28 Aug: Despite still not playing for Liverpool this season, Coutinho is declared fit for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers.
1 Sept: Coutinho scores for Brazil on transfer deadline day after realising there will be no late agreement between Liverpool and Barcelona.
13 Sept: Coutinho makes his first Liverpool appearance in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Sevilla.
19 Sept: Liverpool deny they requested a €200m transfer fee for Coutinho.
30 Dec: Nike accidentally publish a promotion for Barcelona players to buy a shirt with Coutinho’s name on the back. Neither Nike nor Barca comment on the leak.
31 Dec: Express Sport understands a £125m deal could be brokered between Liverpool and Barcelona – and that Coutinho may remain on Merseyside until the end of the season.
2018
1 Jan: January transfer window opens and Coutinho has an unexpected thigh injury, ruling himself out of the game at Burnley.
2 Jan: Reports that Coutinho has gone on strike surface.