Liverpool legend: No-one mentions Coutinho anymore

Matt Stead

Mark Lawrenson was quick to note that “no-one says anything about Philippe Coutinho anymore” after Liverpool reached the Champions League final.

Liverpool advanced to the showpiece in Kiev on May 26 with a 7-6 aggregate victory over Roma. Read 16 Conclusions from a mad second leg.

The Reds have reached the Champions League final despite selling who many thought to be their best player in January.

Coutinho joined Barcelona in a move worth around £140million, but Lawrenson says the Brazilian has been rendered an Anfield afterthought.

“No-one says anything about Philippe Coutinho anymore,” he told BBC Radio 5 live. “I actually thought when he left it might unsettle Roberto Firmino with his mate leaving, but actually, he has stepped up to the plate and been brilliant.

“The two young full-backs [Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold] have seriously improved. Loris Karius is relatively inexperienced so maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised they have conceded the goals tonight. But the experience they have gained from nights like this will be invaluable. Jurgen Klopp has improved all of his players.

“If we said at the start of the game, Roma would win 4-2, we would have got locked up. It was a game that was so open and that’s a slight worry. Going forward, Liverpool are unstoppable but they do have mad moments defensively. If they can cure that moving forward they will be an excellent team.”