Philippe Coutinho leaving Liverpool is GOOD news for Jurgen Klopp - Joey Barton
LIVERPOOL could be a better side without Philippe Coutinho following his £142m transfer to Barcelona.
That’s the view of former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton.
Philippe Coutinho completed his dream move to Barcelona earlier this month as Liverpool finally caved into his demands.
With the Brazilian gone, attention has now turned to how Liverpool will cope without their star man, and who could replace him.
The likes of Monaco’s Thomas Lemar and Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez have been linked but Barton feels with Adam Lallana’s return from injury, getting in another player could cause Klopp another selection headache.
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Klopp was having an issue, certainly in the Liverpool games I had seen, of getting Coutinho, [Sadio] Mane, [Mohamed] Salah and Lallana all into the same side
"Klopp was having an issue, certainly in the Liverpool games I had seen, of getting Coutinho, [Sadio] Mane, [Mohamed] Salah and Lallana all into the same side," Barton told talkSPORT.
"It is going to be Mane and Salah either side of [Roberto] Firmino and now he has got only a smaller issue of does he play [Georginio] Wijnaldum or Lallana.
"I think it has actually helped Klopp out. He knew he had a player who wanted away, he was getting a load of money for him, he knew he would be able to reinvest in the side.
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"It is going to sound bizarre to say this because Coutinho was mercurial for them at times but they could actually end up being a better team, a more cohesive team, without Coutinho.
"I don't think he is as good as [Eden] Hazard. Salah has been more influential than him this season, certainly with his goals."
Liverpool will play their first game since Coutinho’s departure when they host Manchester City on Sunday (4pm).
