Liverpool have rarely got it wrong during Jurgen Klopp’s tenure so far, from the development and reinvestment in the squad to the tactics on the pitch that the club has enjoyed in recent years.
Alas, the successful squad at Anfield has turned stale this season, but there is little dispute that the club built one of the most talented teams that the Premier League has ever seen, with former sporting director Michael Edwards and the manager working together to develop a team which has dominated domestically and in Europe.
Liverpool have won an FA Cup, Carabao Cup and their first-ever Premier League title over the last five years, also reaching three Champions League finals during that time, winning one of those.
One of the catalysts in the club’s ability to land some of the hottest prospects in world football was the sale of Philippe Coutinho back in 2018, when the Merseysiders took the big risk in selling one of their superstars to Barcelona for £142m, and there is no doubt that they struck gold with the move.
FSG are renowned for their strict and tight budgets when it comes to transfers – unlike certain competitors – and will only spend wisely when they have sold players first. Coutinho’s sale facilitated an opportunity to invest in both Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk for a combined £142m, giving Liverpool two of the most important players in their successful era under Klopp.
Letting go of the Brazilian playmaker was a brave decision, as he was one of the best-performing players in the team at the time. He amassed 201 appearances, 54 goals and 45 assists during his five years at Anfield, with a goal contribution every 150 minutes.
However, with the player reportedly refusing to train and play in crucial games for the club shortly before he was sold, their hands were tied, and Liverpool duly had the last laugh.
Fast forward five years and Coutinho – who was dubbed a “big disappointment” by Shay Given – is now 30 years old and currently playing for Aston Villa, with his former Reds team-mate Steven Gerrard snapping up his services in a permanent deal last summer following an initial loan from Barcelona.
The Brazilian is now believed to be worth 94% less (€10m/£8.8m) than he was when Liverpool sold him and is struggling to make his mark in the Midlands this season. He fell out of favour in the team after Gerrard’s sacking and Unai Emery’s arrival, not featuring for more than 45 minutes in a league game since mid-October.
With that in mind, there is no doubt that Liverpool played an absolute blinder when they sold Coutinho, who is a fantastic example of the grass not always being greener on the other side for players who seek out ‘bigger’ moves.
