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For everyone losing their heads over Philippe Coutinho's €160 million transfer to Barcelona, it was merely a foregone conclusion. The Brazilian was always on his way to the Camp Nou, it was only Liverpool's initial resistance that caused the delay.
Nevertheless, the move has finally materialised and Coutinho is on his way to his dream destination, departing Liverpool after five terrific years.
Whilst he could never lift a trophy in the red of the Merseyside outfit, the former Inter Milan man has consistently delivered and conjured several indelible moments for the Kop. His goals are a thing of wonder, and Coutinho has scored 54 of them in 202 appearances in all competitions.
As he now gears to light up La Liga with a similar set of swirls and swingers, we take a trip down the memory lane and single out the 10 best goals by Coutinho for Liverpool.
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#10 vs Crystal Palace (23/04/2017)
A dead-ball specialist, Coutinho was once again at his curling best when he scored this outrageous free-kick against the visiting Crystal Palace last season.
Frustrated by a resilient Eagles side, the Reds were handed a chance to drive ahead with a set-piece. The Brazilian stepped-up to dispatch the free-kick just a few meters outside the box, and did so with a magnificence of the highest order.
Coutinho skillfully curled the ball over the Palace wall and it sneaks beyond the reach of Wayne Hennessey and into the back of the net for a sensational opener. Whilst he has been the source of many such goals from set-pieces, this was truly a work of art from the midfield wizard.
#9 vs Manchester United (17/03/2016)
Philippe Coutinho had established himself as a big-game player during his time at Liverpool, and this one goal against Manchester United aptly justified the same.
In the quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2016, the Reds came to Old Trafford with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, but Anthony Martial halved the deficit from the spot. Even though United never looked like wiping out their lead, Coutinho just put the final nail in the coffin with this cheeky chip at the stroke of half-time.
Charging down the left wing, the midfielder scampered straight at De Gea before lofting a ball over the Spaniard for the equaliser from a very tight angle. The United defense were caught off-guard, but the sheer quality in the goal struck with such composure thoroughly deserves all its plaudits.
#8 vs Chelsea (31/10/2015)
At the advent of the Jurgen Klopp era when Liverpool were only acclimatizing to his style, the 3-1 win over a beleaguered Chelsea at the time teased a sign of things to come. At the heart of that memorable show was Coutinho, bagging a brace to put the visitors ahead for the first time in the match. His first goal of the evening set the Reds firmly on their way.
On being laid off by Roberto Firmino, Coutinho steers himself clear of Ramires before finding a space at the back to unleash a curveball that glides beyond a hapless Thibaut Courtois to crash into the bottom corner of the net.
It was only the second goal by Liverpool under Klopp, but the diminutive Brazilian ensured it was a special one as well.
#7 vs Arsenal (14/08/2016)
The 2016/17 Premier League season witnessed one of the most explosive starts to the campaign, thanks to this nerve-jangling affair at the Emirates between Arsenal and Liverpool that resulted in a 4-3 defeat of the former.
Though Theo Walcott opened the floodgates, Coutinho truly signaled the commencement with a sensational free-kick that set the visitors on course for a memorable win.
With the half-time whistle looming, the Reds won a free-kick 25 yards out and the latter guided a sumptuous effort that swings comfortably into the far post as Petr Cech was rendered helpless.
#6 vs Southampton (22/02/2015)
Coutinho is also well-known for his long distance goals; scoring some really breath-taking ones throughout his career. One of them includes the rocket against Southampton in early 2015.
With only minutes three passed on the clock, he spotted the gaps in the Saints backline, and made a meal out of the same by whacking a ferocious attempt that hit the underside of the bar to crash into the net. Fraser Foster was at full-stretch, but could do absolutely nothing about the shot.
#5 vs Bolton Wanderers (04/02/2015)
Just days before the previous goal, the Brazil international hogged all the deadlines for his heroics against Bolton Wanderers in the third round of the FA Cup. Raheem Sterling cancelled out Gudjohnson's opener with only four minutes on the clock, and a replay at Anfield looked likely.
Cometh the hour, cometh Coutinho.
Jordan Henderson picked him out on the edge of the box, who flounced right by a few steps to pound the ball into the top corner for a gorgeous effort and seal Liverpool's passage into the next round right at the death.
#4 vs Swansea City (26/12/2017)
The last goal by Coutinho for Liverpool was also one of his best, and the one that will forever remain with the Kopites forever.
In what was a cakewalk for the hosts, the 25-year old set the tone for a dominant show with a blistering effort into the far post as the Swansea defense were in sixes and sevens.
Mohammed Salah found Coutinho completely unmarked, who then scythed straight down at goal before sending a howitzer into the top corner with Lukasz Fabianski stranded with flabbergast.
Whilst the goal was pure quality, it was the last time the Kop would see him score for them, which makes this one all the more special.
#3 vs Manchester City (01/03/2015)
The departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona weighed down heavy on Liverpool as they stuttered in the first half of the 2014/15 campaign, before finding some form just before the turn of the year. The Reds would go 13 league games unbeaten, winning 10 of them as they powered into the top five again. And thanks to Coutinho's pile-driver against Manchester City, it ensured no hiccups on the way.
As Edin Dzeko leveled the proceedings after Jordan Henderson had put the hosts in front, Liverpool huffed and puffed in search of a winner that would consolidate their fifth position. And just then, their talisman pulled a rabbit out of his hat with this one.
Darting across the face of the goal to race clear of City defenders, Coutinho pulled the trigger and rifled home an absolute stunner to send Anfield into a delirium. Liverpool were back in the lead as City lost out once again. But more importantly, the Brazilian stepped up when his team needed him the most.
#2 vs Stoke City (09/08/2015)
What better way to start your campaign than Philippe Coutinho firing a bullet of a shot to seal all three point in the dying embers?
Stoke City's 6-1 hammering was still vivid in Liverpool's memory, and the Reds were finding the going difficult once again although this time, they had managed to shut them out at the other end. The then-Brendan Rodgers side were desperately on the prawl for a breakthrough with only four minutes before the full-time whistle.
Coutinho once again took the initiative upon himself, and on being released by Joe Gomez just a few yards out, the former raced a few steps ahead to blast a shot into the top corner that almost threw the onlookers off their seats.
Out of nowhere, Liverpool bagged all three points in the inaugural game of the 2015/16 campaign, and yet again, they owe it all to their midfield magician.
#1 vs Everton (01/04/2017)
Philippe Coutinho is adept at a lot of things, but with this goal, proved he can give the likes of Lionel Messi a run for their money.
Collecting a pass from near the half-way line, Coutinho whizzed down towards the goal, slaloming past two defenders before letting it rip through another two to place it into the far post and well beyond the Everton goalkeeper.
Skill, technique, tenacity and sheer class, it was Philippe Coutinho just being Philippe Coutinho; unstoppable at his rip-roaring best.
The goal put the hosts ahead in the Merseyside derby, but from a greater perspective, the former Inter Milan man truly burnished his credentials as one of the best in the business.
