Snake! Little magician! What for? Divided Liverpool fans react to Ballon d’Or nomination

Divided Liverpool fans have reacted to Philippe Coutinho’s Ballon d’Or nomination.

The Brazilian playmaker was included in the list of 30 players to be put up for the award, along with club-mate Sadio Mane.

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has been left off the shortlist, while Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, Chelsea men Kevin de Bruyne and N’Golo Kante as well as Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane are up for the Ballon d’Or.

Kane has been in excellent form, scoring 43 goals in 37 games across all club and international competitions in 2017.

Michael Owen was the only former Reds player to win the prestigious prize back in 2001, while Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have come second, third and third.

Coutinho has played 11 times for club and country this season, scoring six goals and creating one assist – while he also scored a further 11 goals for Brazil and Liverpool during the last half of the 2016/2017 campaign.

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Some sections of the Liverpool support still haven’t forgiven him for his antics during the summer transfer window in which the playmaker demanded a move to Barcelona, and there were rumours circulating that he faked an injury to avoid playing for the club during the transfer window.

So scroll down to see some of the inevitable overreactions as well as some praise for the Brazilian, all found on the fountain of all knowledge that’s Twitter.

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With some many prestigious names lined up for the prize, it will take a massive effort for Coutinho to end up winning it. There is no doubt that he’s a wizard in the team, but the best in the world during 2017? Probably not.