Coutinho is Liverpool’s best and most talented player.
He’s the one garnering interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid and the like and is by far our most valuable commodity.
We also look a far more dangerous side when he’s on the pitch, but the statistics this season show going forward, we’re just as effective without our Brazilian talisman.
Sky Sports have presented the argument, showing that with our no.10, we’ve scored 26 goals in 967 minutes – at a rate of 2.4 goals per game.
Without Coutinho, we’ve notched 15 in 563 – at exactly 2.4 goals per game…
In his absence in recent weeks, goals have not been a problem with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Divock Origi. We notched three against Bournemouth (although we lost), two against West Ham (although we drew), three at ‘Boro and one at Everton. Earlier in the season when he was absent for the Leicester thrashing, we bagged four – this time with Daniel Sturridge in for Origi.
What’s clear is that whatever frontline Jurgen Klopp deploys, Liverpool score goals. We’re the top scorers in the division and it’s our problems at the back this term which has primarily cost us points…
However, since Simon Mignolet’s re-introduction, we’ve kept consecutive clean-sheets and we hope that defensive form continues over the festive period.
Coutinho could be back for the Manchester City clash on New Year’s Eve, meaning we’ve still got one more game to navigate without him – versus Stoke on the 27th.