Liverpool

Ray Houghton: 'Liverpool must strengthen after losing Philippe Coutinho'

By Jonny Whitfield, Reporter | 07 January 2018

Former Liverpool player Ray Houghton says that the club must strengthen if they are to progress as a team following the exit of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona.

Former Liverpool player Ray Houghton has said that the club must strengthen if they are to progress as a team following the exit of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona.

Coutinho's £142m move, which came on Saturday after Jurgen Klopp's side rejected several bids for the Brazilian last summer, is the biggest involving a British club and has left a hole in Liverpool's attack, according to Houghton.

Coutinho, who scored 12 times in 20 appearances in the current campaign prior to his move to Spain, netted his last goal for the club in a 5-0 win over Swansea City.

"Over the years Liverpool have had Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez - and it's the same thing," Houghton told talkSPORT. "'Oh we'll never replace them.' You can; of course you can.

"There's different ways and means of doing it. It'll be up to the others to start chipping in with more goals and more assists. But Liverpool are looking to build a squad, not only to get into the top four, but to win the league.

"And to do that there are other positions they have to strengthen. I think they need a top quality goalkeeper, another centre-half and probably another central midfield player as well."

Liverpool face Premier League leaders Manchester City next Sunday in a crunch clash for the Reds' hopes of a top-four finish.