Liverpool reaping benefits of life after Coutinho

As Liverpool place one foot into the final of the Champions League, they do so around 150lbs lighter and £150m better off as a liberated squad look better than ever after Phillipe Coutinho left for the shores of Barcelona.

The Reds, still coming to terms with what may be their biggest victory of the season have done so in style after sweeping aside AS Roma 5-2 thanks to goals from Mohammad Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.

A scenario that a couple of months ago looked a world away is now a reality with Jürgen Klopp's men just one win away from meeting either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Kiev.

However, one man may have regretted his search for success by leaving Anfield earlier this year, as Coutinho, a man who the Merseyside club once relied so heavily on  - is now a forgotten figure, a mere footnote in the history of the club on the verge of creating a dynasty.

Liverpool racked up 20 victories in 33 games in all competitions prior to Coutinho's exit scoring 77 goals, conceding 39 goals while following his transfer The Redmen have won 13 of 19 games bagging 47 along the way while conceding 16.

This works out as 2.3 goals scored per game before Coutinho and achieving 2.4 goals in his absence, while the defence would concede an average of 1.1 goals per game with the former talisman while the defensive stats have remained similar.

The form of Liverpool's have eased what looked like being a rough break up, despite the £150m fee, with the recruitment of Virgil Van Dijk just one of the benefits of the former No.10 easing the budget at Anfield.

The Dutch defender, an £80m signing from Southampton in January has, a 72.4% aerial duel success rate, outperforming PFA players of the year Jan Vertonghen and Nicholas Otamendi.

However it is the forward line that has amassed worldwide plaudits, with a free flowing attack and a solid midfield line, The Reds look like a solid team that has achieved a sense of balance that one looked to be built on poor foundations.

A captain's role

Captaining one of Britain's greatest clubs is no easy feat and Jordan Henderson was a man many deemed un up to the task but the Liverpool leader is playing his best football, with much of this down to Coutinho's exit.

Following the Brazillian's relocation to the Nou Camp, a major area of the pitch become available in Klopp's XI and a man who was once criticised for his lack of forward play has shown his ability to create much more from deep.

The captain has demonstrated his ability to maintain stable defensive play while unleashing the forward line of Salah, Firmino and Mane, while also feeding Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gini Wijnaldum who burst forward from the middle of the park.

Henderson's subtle play will often go unnoticed but much of his contribution has been vital in Liverpool turning a corner in 2018, with the former Sunderland man proving doubters wrong.