Mark Lawrenson: Why Liverpool FC will recover from losing Philippe Coutinho
The Liverpool FC legend is confident the Reds can bounce back from the disappointment of Philippe Coutinho's exit
Mark Lawrenson is backing Liverpool FC to overcome the disappointment of losing Philippe Coutinho in the January transfer window.
The Brazil international completed a £142m move to La Liga leaders Barcelona over the weekend to end a four-season stay at Anfield.
Coutinho was linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer but Liverpool FC refused to sell their prized number 10 ahead of the 2017-18 season.
The 25-year-old will link up with former Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi at Camp Nou following his move.
Liverpool FC sold Suarez to Barcelona in a £65m deal in 2014 after the Uruguay international’s goals helped the Reds to the brink of a first Premier League title before the Merseyside outfit ultimately finish in second place.
Former Liverpool FC defender Lawrenson likened Coutinho’s departure to the Suarez situation but insisted that the Anfield side could recover from the disappointment of losing their key player.
“[Torres and Suarez] were both very, very good for Liverpool but when you think of it like that it does soften the blow for it because it is a case of, ‘the King is dead, long live the King’,” Lawrenson told BBC Sport.
“The loss of Coutinho is a blow but I don’t think it is insurmountable. It is not like Tottenham losing Harry Kane, is it?”
Liverpool FC signed Coutinho in an £8.5m deal from Serie A giants Inter Milan in the 2013 January transfer window.
The Reds didn’t win a trophy during Coutinho’s four-season stay at Liverpool FC.
The Merseyside outfit will return to Premier League action with a home clash against Manchester City next weekend.
