Jurgen Klopp has admitted Liverpool “don’t have to replace” Philippe Coutinho and insists the club can still thrive this season without the Brazilian.

The German was resigned to losing the playmaker following his desire to join Blaugrana but feels the Merseysiders don’t exactly need to splurge in the market in order to find an immediate replacement.

Speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Manchester City on Sunday, Klopp said: “If we do it, it has to be the right decision. We don’t have to replace him as such, we will still have 11 players.

“I don’t want to sound disrespectful, he was here for five years, we will miss him. But we want to play good football without Phil.

“We had fantastic games with him and not so good games with him, and the same when he didn’t play.”