UCL Semi-Final: Liverpool Vs Roma 0 - 0 - (Live )
what a game.
When Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp sanctioned the sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January, many Reds fans feared the worst.
At the time he went to Spain, Coutinho had made more Premier League chances and assists than any other Liverpool player and, in open play or from set-pieces, did more than anyone else to make the team tick.
Allowing their playmaker to leave midway through the season not only threatened to derail Liverpool's promising campaign, but by taking the cash they arguably signalled a distinct lack of ambition too.
But three months on, as a free-scoring Reds side prepare to take on Roma in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday (19:45 BST kick-off), it does not seem like they are missing the £142m man very much after all.
"You cannot say they are better without him, because we do not know where they would be in the Premier League if he had stayed - but they have definitely adapted," says former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock.
"There is more emphasis on the front three to create more for themselves now, because they haven't got Coutinho behind them to create for them.
"And there is a better balance to the team too. Everyone is talking about the difference [£75m defender] Virgil van Dijk has made - and he has been immense at the back - but having another midfielder who is more defensive-minded than Coutinho has definitely helped as well.
"Liverpool have been improving as the season has gone on anyway, and there are several reasons for that, but it will have taken people by surprise that they have kicked on the way they have since selling Coutinho.
"They obviously believed they could deal with him leaving - and they have."
What's changed? A collective effort in midfield and attack
Since Coutinho's exit broke up the so-called 'Fab Four', Liverpool's attack is looking more lethal than ever. But why?
Between them, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have created 71 chances for each other this season, more than Coutinho, Firmino and Mane managed in the whole of 2016-17, and more of those chances are resulting in goals too.
"It has not just been Salah on his own individually, they have done it collectively," Warnock explained.
"That is probably the biggest delight for Klopp, because he has got all three of them making goals for each other as well as scoring them.
"I love the way Salah can make something happen out of nothing in the same way [Barcelona forward] Lionel Messi does, and his brilliance has actually freed Mane and Firmino up more too.
"People are so petrified of Salah that they cannot worry about the other two, and it means they are causing damage when he's not. If I was lining up against them, I wouldn't know what to do.
"Then you have got the three behind, who understand they have got to do more for the strikers now Coutinho has gone.
"Previously, the midfield would win it and they would look for him straightaway to be the one to create, whereas now they are becoming the creators because they have to."
Unpredictable in attack? 'They break like the Red Arrows'
Klopp feels that shared responsibility when Liverpool move forward means they are more unpredictable than they were with Coutinho in the side.
Warnock also thinks it means they are more likely to play to their strengths - ripping teams apart with the speed of their attacks, with several players able to provide the finish.
"They just break like the Red Arrows," the Englishman added. "When they run, they all burst forward and it could be any one of them who scores - whoever gets in the right position.
"I think that has been a big positive too. They are not selfish when they get there because they understand that everyone is making a run for a reason, and they just try to pick the right pass.
"When Coutinho was in midfield, he tended to hold on to the ball quite a bit and be a dribbler. Because he had the ability to hold on to the ball and protect it, he maybe slowed the game down a little bit.
"Now, that midfield three tend to move it quite quickly and simply, and get it to the front three as quick as they can."
Fewer shots from distance? You find a different way to win games
One of Coutinho's trademarks in a red shirt was his spectacular shooting from distance, and for good reason. During his time at the club, he scored more Premier League goals from outside the box than any other player.
But for every effort he brilliantly bent into the top corner, there were many more that were blocked or ended up in the stand.
Behind all this improvement is one man.
Warnock feels Klopp has learned a lot in his two and a half years in the Premier League, which is why the Reds are reaping the rewards.
"You can see that he has worked out what went wrong last season, and he knows when players can and cannot be rested," he said.
"Hearing from people who play for the team now, he has changed his training schedule to suit the intensity of the Premier League.
"Liverpool play a massively fitness-based game and I am not surprised it has taken some players time to adjust to that.
"When they faded in January last season, the theory was that they were tired and running out of steam. Not any more. If anything they are getting stronger.
"Look at what happened after they lost to Manchester United at the start of March. The great thing was they bounced back straight away."
Trust Klopp - with tactics, training and in the transfer market
When Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp sanctioned the sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January, many Reds fans feared the worst.
At the time he went to Spain, Coutinho had made more Premier League chances and assists than any other Liverpool player and, in open play or from set-pieces, did more than anyone else to make the team tick.
Allowing their playmaker to leave midway through the season not only threatened to derail Liverpool's promising campaign, but by taking the cash they arguably signalled a distinct lack of ambition too.
But three months on, as a free-scoring Reds side prepare to take on Roma in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday (19:45 BST kick-off), it does not seem like they are missing the £142m man very much after all.
"You cannot say they are better without him, because we do not know where they would be in the Premier League if he had stayed - but they have definitely adapted," says former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock.
"There is more emphasis on the front three to create more for themselves now, because they haven't got Coutinho behind them to create for them.
"And there is a better balance to the team too. Everyone is talking about the difference [£75m defender] Virgil van Dijk has made - and he has been immense at the back - but having another midfielder who is more defensive-minded than Coutinho has definitely helped as well.
"Liverpool have been improving as the season has gone on anyway, and there are several reasons for that, but it will have taken people by surprise that they have kicked on the way they have since selling Coutinho.
"They obviously believed they could deal with him leaving - and they have."
What's changed? A collective effort in midfield and attack
Since Coutinho's exit broke up the so-called 'Fab Four', Liverpool's attack is looking more lethal than ever. But why?
Between them, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have created 71 chances for each other this season, more than Coutinho, Firmino and Mane managed in the whole of 2016-17, and more of those chances are resulting in goals too.
"It has not just been Salah on his own individually, they have done it collectively," Warnock explained.
"That is probably the biggest delight for Klopp, because he has got all three of them making goals for each other as well as scoring them.
"I love the way Salah can make something happen out of nothing in the same way [Barcelona forward] Lionel Messi does, and his brilliance has actually freed Mane and Firmino up more too.
"People are so petrified of Salah that they cannot worry about the other two, and it means they are causing damage when he's not. If I was lining up against them, I wouldn't know what to do.
"Then you have got the three behind, who understand they have got to do more for the strikers now Coutinho has gone.
"Previously, the midfield would win it and they would look for him straightaway to be the one to create, whereas now they are becoming the creators because they have to."
Unpredictable in attack? 'They break like the Red Arrows'
Klopp feels that shared responsibility when Liverpool move forward means they are more unpredictable than they were with Coutinho in the side.
Warnock also thinks it means they are more likely to play to their strengths - ripping teams apart with the speed of their attacks, with several players able to provide the finish.
"They just break like the Red Arrows," the Englishman added. "When they run, they all burst forward and it could be any one of them who scores - whoever gets in the right position.
"I think that has been a big positive too. They are not selfish when they get there because they understand that everyone is making a run for a reason, and they just try to pick the right pass.
"When Coutinho was in midfield, he tended to hold on to the ball quite a bit and be a dribbler. Because he had the ability to hold on to the ball and protect it, he maybe slowed the game down a little bit.
"Now, that midfield three tend to move it quite quickly and simply, and get it to the front three as quick as they can."
Fewer shots from distance? You find a different way to win games
One of Coutinho's trademarks in a red shirt was his spectacular shooting from distance, and for good reason. During his time at the club, he scored more Premier League goals from outside the box than any other player.
But for every effort he brilliantly bent into the top corner, there were many more that were blocked or ended up in the stand.
Behind all this improvement is one man.
Warnock feels Klopp has learned a lot in his two and a half years in the Premier League, which is why the Reds are reaping the rewards.
"You can see that he has worked out what went wrong last season, and he knows when players can and cannot be rested," he said.
"Hearing from people who play for the team now, he has changed his training schedule to suit the intensity of the Premier League.
"Liverpool play a massively fitness-based game and I am not surprised it has taken some players time to adjust to that.
"When they faded in January last season, the theory was that they were tired and running out of steam. Not any more. If anything they are getting stronger.
"Look at what happened after they lost to Manchester United at the start of March. The great thing was they bounced back straight away."
Trust Klopp - with tactics, training and in the transfer market
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