Liverpool Transfer News: Philippe Coutinho Won't Be Replaced in January Window

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed the Reds will not replace Philippe Coutinho in the January transfer window despite links to AS Monaco's Thomas Lemar and Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez. 

The Brazilian playmaker departed for Barcelona in a deal worth up to £142 million earlier this month, but Klopp has revealed Liverpool will not look to replace him immediately despite back-to-back losses against Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion, per Jack Austin of The Independent: 

"Phil Coutinho is not to (be) replaced in this transfer window. Why pay Barca a big amount of money for a player like Phil Coutinho because he's pretty rare? We can stop thinking about it. It's not about replacing anybody, it's about using our own opportunities, tools, players, tactics, formations, all that stuff. Yes if you like we didn't play well at Swansea but a few days earlier we played brilliantly against Man City.

"But of course we could have won at Swansea and the same with the last game against Man City. It doesn't say anything about the performances only the results were not good enough but we could have won these games. It was not about creating chances it was about different stuff, different things... I don't think Phil would have helped a lot in this situations. He's a fantastic player but that was not the problem.

"We have to find immediately (a way back) to the winning track, we need results to reach our targets, we know that. The solution is not out there in the transfer market on this moment. We always have open eyes in situations like that but it is not that there is something out there for us to get."

In the wake of Coutinho's departure, Liverpool produced a stunning attacking display to beat Manchester City 4-3 at Anfield on January 14, the Sky Blues' first Premier League loss of the season.

However, they then followed that result with a 1-0 defeat to bottom-of-the-table Swansea before crashing out of the FA Cup after a 3-2 home loss to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. 

City are running away with the 2017-18 Premier League title. They are 12 points clear of second-placed Manchester United and 18 ahead of fourth-placed Liverpool.

The Reds' main concern in the top flight this season will be hanging on to fourth place as Tottenham Hotspur are just two points behind them.

Klopp's side are in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League—where they will face FC Porto—but the FA Cup was by far Liverpool's best chance of winning silverware this term, as noted by former captain Steven Gerrard, per BT Sport Football:

If the Reds fail to win a trophy in 2017-18 and fail to qualify for the Champions League, Klopp's position could come under threat.

Despite the German manager claiming Coutinho would not have helped them in their two recent losses, Liverpool's decision not to adequately replace the 25-year-old in the current transfer window could come back to haunt them if their form does not turn around.