Dean Saunders isn’t convinced that Liverpool should sign Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho despite speculation suggesting they’re keen on a reunion.
French outlet Le10Sport previously reported that the Reds were in the hunt to sign the Brazilian midfielder with the Spanish giants not opposed to seeing him leave this summer.
Laura Woods asked Saunders whether he could see Coutinho returning to Anfield after leaving the Reds for Barca in January 2018, and the pundit seemed against it as he pointed out Jurgen Klopp’s side didn’t miss him when he left.
“Well, they haven’t missed him? How can you say they’ve missed him?” said Saunders on talkSPORT (8:56am, Tuesday July 2nd).
“They’ve lost one game all season, they lost the league by one point after Manchester City won the last 14 games of the season, they didn’t bottle it.
“No, I don’t think so (Woods asked if they missed him positionally) their front three is their front three, Mane, Salah, Firmino and I mean they’ve had Origi come on and do his bit, Shaqiri has come on and done his bit.
“In midfield, they may be lacking, maybe if you’re really critical, they’re lacking an inventive midfielder, yeah but they’re work-man like.
“They’ve got Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner, Fabinho, they’re a work-man like midfield, and Keita is the one they thought could do that (be inventive); and he may end up doing that.
“Carries the ball, gets in the last third and makes things happen.”
OPINION
It’s hard not to disagree with Saunders here as his own remarks show why the Reds should be open to bringing Coutinho back to the club. Saunders is right to claim Klopp’s side coped without them but he is also right to claim they could do with an inventive midfielder arriving. While Saunders eventually ends up saying Naby Keita could step up next season, there’s no guarantee the 24-year-old could be what the Reds are lacking. Keita only managed three goals and one assist in his 33 Liverpool outings during his debut campaign at Anfield during the 2018/19 season, and really the Reds want a creative midfielder who can hit double digits in goals or assists. Keita may have impressively averaged 40.20 passes per game in his league outings, as per the Premier League, but the fact he only created one big chance is damning (Source: Premier League). This is especially the case when you compare his stats to Coutinho’s, from the Brazilian’s last season in the Premier League. The 27-year-old averaged 49.29 passes per game and created seven big chances during his league outings, and that was after featuring just 14 times; as he exited the club midway through the 2017/18 campaign.
