Liverpool need to improve the whole team not just replace Coutinho

Liverpool were never going to be able to replace Philippe Coutinho. The real crime is ceasing to improve a team that is not where it wants to be.

Where is Philippe Coutinho’s replacement? Much like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny he doesn’t actually exist. We are less than 36 hours away from the window closing and Liverpool are going to finish this transfer window by selling their best player and not doing a single thing to replace him.

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The reality is that replacing him is impossible. There are only a handful of players in the world as good as him at dribbling. Only another half-dozen or so that can score from outside the box to the same level. He is also elite at link up play, through balls and quick, fluid counter attacking.

There is a reason he cost £145 million. To replace him this season would actually take three players. The manager is right to take his time to find a top-level player that can join the Liverpool first team and offer even half of what Coutinho did.

When Klopp buys a player he usually gets it right. That is huge progress from the days of Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers; then we had to buy three players to find one that was even half way decent.

I would love to see Liverpool buy a player like Thomas Lemar, Nabil Fekir or Christian Pulisic to go some way to make up for Coutinho’s departure. But I understand that is very hard to do in January. Only idiots sell their best players midseason, right?

What is inexcusable is the apparent decision of Jurgen Klopp and FSG that nothing can be improved now. That is what the club is saying but their own actions belie the truth. If Liverpool cannot significantly improve in January then why add Virgil van Dijk? And why try to get Naby Keita early?

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The truth is not that it can’t be done, the truth is they can’t do it. They are two very different things. Goalkeepers, defender and midfielders that can improve Liverpool now are not mythical  tooth fairies. And Kopites should not be suckered into believing otherwise.