Liverpool may not have forgiven Brazil international Philippe Coutinho for forcing a move to Barcelona after the club had persuaded him to remain at Anfield. After Liverpool turned down series of bids from Barcelona, the La Liga table toppers returned in January in a more aggressive fashion and secured a deal for the Brazilian. The deal is believed to be in the region of about £146m.
Speaking on whether Liverpool are seeking to replace the Brazilian before the close of the January transfer window, Manager Jurgen Klopp said the squad had played fantastic football without Coutinho and was not in a panic mood to seek for a replacement.
"We don't have to replace him. What we have to do is we have to step up. We played fantastic football without Phil. I don't want to sound disrespectful because I really liked him but we only have to carry on. We had fantastic games with him and not that good games with him.
"We have open eyes through this transfer window but we will not make crazy things. We want 'right' before 'expensive'."
Meanwhile, Liverpool's longtime target, Naby Keita is set to be signed following the exit of Coutinho. Although his deal was billed to be consummated at the end of the current campaign, the exit of Coutinho has forced the club to expedite the deal.
