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21st Jan 2018

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will only spend Coutinho money when the time is right

Matthew Gault

The club received a significant injection of cash from selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona.

Jurgen Klopp has tossed a bucket of cold water over suggestions that Liverpool will splash the cash gained from Philippe Coutinho’s transfer to Barcelona in the January transfer window.

The Reds generated £145 million from the Brazilian’s departure. Virgil van Dijk was signed from Southampton at the start of the window  – making him the world’s most expensive defender – but reports had linked Liverpool with another high-profile acquisition before the close of the current window.

A plan to bring Naby Keita to Anfield this month instead of the summer did not come to fruition but Klopp feels as though he has enough strength in depth to see him through the season.

“I don’t think about money. Nobody told me that I have to think about money because we are always reasonable, we always try to do the right thing. Obviously, we don’t hesitate to spend the money, we did a few times, but it is not about the moment, it is about making the right decision.

“It is not that Adam Lallana is a replacement for Philippe Coutinho but he is back. Cool. It is another wonderful, creative, offensive-midfield player. Does he have the same free-kick as Philippe Coutinho? No, but there are a lot of things he can do. He can make us stronger in these situations.

Klopp explained that, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum to call upon, he does not feel short in the midfield department despite losing a player of Coutinho’s quality and influence.

“And there are other players who can stand up. [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain was here all the time with Phil together but he can do a job, Milly [James Milner] still, Gini [Wijnaldum], so they are all here and can make an improvement and develop in the season so that is all good.

“If anything obviously right would be there in the window then nobody would not do it and we say, ‘OK, let’s go for it,’ but it is not about doing something to cool the situation down or show the people we don’t sleep. It is only about right or wrong and at this moment in this situation it is right.”

Liverpool will be hoping to secure their sixth successive win in all competitions as they travel to the Liberty Stadium to face bottom-placed Swansea City on Monday night.