‘WE’VE GOT PLAYERS TO PHIL THE GAP’

LIVERPOOL have enough quality to cope without Philippe Coutinho, insists Alex-oxlade Chamberlain.

He said it was disappointing that he only played with the Brazilian for a few months before his move to Barcelona last week and hailed him as world class. But the England star pointed out that the Reds had some good wins without their former playmaker and claimed they have big match-winners in Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.

Oxlade-chamberlain (with Coutinho, left) said: “You can’t start thinking, ‘What are we going to do now that Phil isn’t here?’ It’s business as usual.

“When Phil wasn’t playing for some games we still played great football. We still have amazing players who can score goals – the likes of Mo, Sadio, Roberto, everyone else.

“We have creativity and goals all over the team. Phil added to that, there is no doubt. But now he’s gone we have to think, ‘What have we got that’s going to get the job done?’. I have every faith in the boys that we can just move on. I don’t think it should affect us at all.”

Oxlade-chamberlain, 24, said big players coming and going is part of football and added Liverpool have been boosted by the £75million arrival of Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk.

“People come, people go, and it’s our job to keep the wheels turning and the momentum going,” he said.

“We’ve just brought in Virgil and what an amazing addition he’s been in the short time that he’s been here.”

Liverpool have been told there is no chance of Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita moving to Anfield this month.

The Reds have an agreement for the Guinea international to join them in July, but his German club insist he won’t be sold ahead of schedule.