Liverpool should not be so hasty in ruling out possible Philippe Coutinho return [Opinion]

As stated in The Mirror, former Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho has indicated that he would like to return to Anfield and admitted that he was mistaken in forcing through his move to Barcelona two years ago.

However, The Mirror reported that his former club have “zero interest” in having him back for a second stint at Anfield, believing that he would have minimal resale value given that he turns 28 in June and would likely demand at least a four-year contract if he were to rejoin.

The case for having Coutinho back at Liverpool

The Brazilian was a frequent source of goals in his first stint at Liverpool between 2013 and 2018, scoring 54 times and providing 45 assists in 201 appearances for the Reds. He had a penchant for producing exquisite long-range goals such as those against Manchester City (March 2015), Stoke (August 2015), Chelsea (October 2015), Arsenal (August 2016) and Newcastle (October 2017).

He was nominated for the PFA Player of the Year in 2015 and also made the PFA Young Player of the Year shortlist that season and the next. A frequent scorer and creator of goals at Anfield, he is showcasing those traits again on loan at Bayern Munich this season, with eight goals and six assists in 22 Bundesliga games a vast improvement on the five goals and two assists he posted in 34 league matches for parent club Barcelona last term.

Coutinho would give Jurgen Klopp plenty of tactical flexibility in attack if he were to rejoin Liverpool. He is comfortable lining out as either a left winger or central attacking midfielder – the former would provide serious competition for Sadio Mane, who could miss a large part of next season if Senegal qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2021, while the latter role would give Klopp greater scope to adopt a 4-2-3-1 if he feels the need to deviate from his preferred 4-3-3 depending on the opposition and the availability of players.

The case against having Coutinho back at Liverpool

Coutinho didn’t exactly leave Liverpool in the most salubrious fashion, reportedly paying €10m (£8.83m) of his own money as he tried to push through his move to Barcelona (Mundo Deportivo, via Calciomercato). As noted by The Independent, the manner of his departure “was met with consternation from supporters” on Merseyside. He struggled to recapture his best form at Barcelona, with just 21 goals in 76 appearances, and had been jeered by elements of the Camp Nou support last year over the standard of his performances.

Also, as highlighted by The Mirror, he may be 27 now but, if signed on a four-year deal by Liverpool, would be 32 by the time that contract expires, thus leaving the Reds very likely to make a loss on him as his resale value will probably have diminished substantially. Another concern would be whether he would play that much at Anfield, with Mane a clear favourite of Klopp on the left wing and the manager’s 4-3-3 not leaving room for a playmaker behind the front three.

Verdict

Coutinho seems to be enjoying a revival at Bayern Munich and his creative spark from the attacking midfield area could be just what Liverpool need, with Jamie Carragher decrying a lack of flair from that part of the pitch following last month’s Champions League defeat away to Atletico Madrid. His ability to play on the left would also give Klopp greater tactical scope and would cover against the likely unavailability of Mane for a few weeks next season.

Even if Liverpool were to sign him and make a loss upon his departure, it would still surely be a far lower hit than the profit they made on him from his first stint at Anfield. Having signed him for £8.5m in 2013, they recouped £142m for him five years later, thus making a gargantuan profit which would probably dwarf any loss that could occur second time around.

Coutinho is the same age as Mane and Mohamed Salah and younger than Roberto Firmino, all of whom are excelling for Liverpool this season. Also, Manchester United signed Robin van Persie at 29 in August 2012 and his 26 Premier League goals that season went a long way towards them winning the title, so concerns about the Brazilian’s age should be alleviated by the potential difference he could make even for a season or two.

He wants a return to Liverpool and Barcelona want to sell him (as per The Mirror), so the Anfield club ought to take a step back and reconsider whether Coutinho can still be a key contributor if he were to come back to Merseyside for a second spell.

Liverpool fans, would you take Coutinho back at Anfield or are the Reds right to rule out his return? Have your say by commenting below!