Liverpool became a “proper team” after selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona, says Graeme Souness, with that deal allowing them to bring in Virgil van Dijk.
Back in January 2018, the Reds reluctantly accepted that a Brazil international playmaker was destined to head through the exits at Anfield.
Talk of a big-money move to Camp Nou had raged for some time, with Coutinho making it clear that he fancied a shot at life under the brightest of spotlights.
Before a switch to La Liga was made official, Liverpool swooped on Premier League rivals Southampton to land Van Dijk in a £75 million ($96m) deal.
The Dutch defender has become a talismanic presence on Merseyside, while Coutinho finds himself on loan at Bayern Munich after struggling to make the desired impact with Barca.
Liverpool have certainly found the greater value in transfer dealings, with Jurgen Klopp’s side now Champions League and Club World Cup winners.
They are also chasing down a first league title in 30 years, with a 13-point lead opened up at the top of the Premier League table, and Souness believes shrewd recruitment is responsible for the impressive progress.
The Reds legend told Sky Sports: “Maybe, for the neutral, they were a better watch a couple of years ago.
“But when they got rid of Coutinho and brought in Van Dijk and Alisson, that’s when they made that jump.
“All of a sudden they’re a proper team.”
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