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This article is part of Football FanCast's Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers...

Speaking on BBC 5 Live, ESPN journalist Melissa Reddy opened up on the situation regarding Philippe's Coutinho's exit from Liverpool and the circumstances that have changed since his departure.

The Brazil international left Anfield in January 2018 having handed in a transfer request, whilst he also paid a chunk of his own money in order to make the move happen.

Things have turned sour for the 27-year-old in Catalonia however, with the Barcelona supporters booing Coutinho last season whilst the Spanish champions actively tried to get rid of him this summer.

What did Reddy say?

Reddy told BBC 5 Live: "I think this Liverpool team has evolved to the point where Coutinho needs this Liverpool side more than they need him.

"He left as the best player at the club. He would return and be about sixth or seventh (best). He wouldn't be guaranteed a starting position and I think that would be a very hard thing for him to accept."

Liverpool showed fantastic initiative

How proactive were Liverpool in dealing with this whole situation?

Even before Coutinho had officially closed the door behind him on his way out of Anfield, a £75m deal for long-term target Virgil van Dijk had been wrapped up.

Not long after that, a £66.8m summer move for Alisson Becker was tied up.

Liverpool sold Coutinho for £142m, and signed the aforementioned duo for a combined sum of £141.8m - their reaction to the whole debacle surrounding the Brazilian playmaker was exemplary.

For the club's best player at the time to go off the rails right at the start of the season and ultimately leave, things could've gone one of two ways for Liverpool.

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They could've panicked and thrown that money at another Andy Carroll type purchase, or they could've done their homework, analysed their weaknesses and actively go out and solve them, which they did - all whilst spending not a penny more than they had earned.

Reddy is right. This Liverpool team has evolved to the point where Coutinho would be nothing but a mere squad player, and that is down to the expert reaction following his departure.

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