Liverpool will NOT replace Philippe Coutinho before transfer window closes, confirms Jurgen Klopp
JURGEN KLOPP has revealed that Philippe Coutinho is not about to be replaced at Anfield.
The Liverpool manager has been stunned by two shock defeats - to rock bottom Swansea City in the Premier League and West Bromwich in the FA Cup.
But he insisted: "Phil Coutinho is not to be replaced in this transfer window. We can stop thinking about it.'"
Coutinho finally left Merseyside for Barcelona for £142million, prompting fans' hopes of a big money signing to fill the Brazilian's very considerable midfield boots.
But German boss Klopp insists Liverpool's problems relate to defence and not midfield or attack - despite the £75m addition of Virgil van Dijk.
"It is not about replacing anyone,"Klopp said. "It is about using our own opportunities, our own tools, players, tactics and formations.
"Yes, it is right we didn't play well at Swansea but a few days before we played fantastic against Manchester City.
"We could have won at Swansea and exactly the same with the last game. It was not about creating chances, it was about different things.
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"I don't think Phil would have helped a lot in these situations.
“We have to get immediately back on the winning track and we need results to reach our targets, we know that.
"But the solution is not out there in the transfer market in this moment.
“We always have open eyes in situations like that but it is not like there is something out there for us to get because we really think we have to use, first of all, our players.
“Unfortunately in the moment when Phil left Adam (Lallana) got an injury and that was unlucky but that cannot be the reason for getting nervous and going out to try do something.
“In the long term we will do a lot, in the short term I don’t think a lot will happen.”
Liverpool, fourth in the Premier League, are at Huddersfield on Tuesday. Once again Klopp will go head-to-head with best friend David Wagner.
The Terriers have only one win in the last eight but the pressure to win is already greater on Liverpool.
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“That’s okay because for us it is important you feel it and don’t think it is not important.
“We have to make it much better from now on. If you use a defeat to learn from then it is still bad but it is okay. If you don’t learn from it you are silly.
“I don’t look ahead four or five weeks and think ‘That’s an important game’ so it has not changed for Huddersfield.
“We need to show we are really ready for that. Huddersfield is a special place, the whole city fights for the league.
“They don’t expect brilliant football, they expect a proper fight and that is what Huddersfield Town is ready to deliver.
“We need to deliver as well.”