Alternate history: What could've happened had Coutinho gone to Barcelona

Robert Lewandowski and Sam Allardyce make an unlikely pairing, though were it not for a perilous peak spewing ash from its volcanic vent, the Polish goal machine and mountain of a man could've shared the quaint confines of Ewood Park.

Raising eyebrows whilst starring at Lech Poznan and in Poland's youth ranks, Lewandowski was set to join Blackburn in 2010 before Icelandic volcano Mount Eyjafjallajokull grounded flights across Europe.

In terms of regret over transfers, in the case of then-Blackburn boss Allardyce and Lewandowski, the factors that prevented the move were beyond the control of the interested parties. In other circumstances, failed transfers rest squarely on the shoulders of the parent club and potential suitor. Over time, unease over sales not made can haunt an outfit whose window to make a buck off a player is steadily closing.

The Coutinho quandary

When the fourth official raised the board Saturday at Anfield during the waning moments of Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Chelsea, a glowing red No. 10 prompted Philippe Coutinho's coming off. Forgive those who thought they were gazing at an optical illusion because the crafty Brazilian had been for the most part anonymous in his amended deep role behind an attacking trio.

With a front three of summer signing Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino the driving force behind Liverpool's title ambitions, Coutinho's probing presence has been lessened, and with Jurgen Klopp favourite - and neighbour - Adam Lallana fit again, the Brazilian's role could be curtailed further.

And to think, Coutinho could be lining up alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at the Camp Nou had one of Barcelona's three advances for the player been accepted. Klopp doesn't see a future for Coutinho on the wing, and with the prolonged excellence of Gini Wijnaldum and the box-to-box versatility of incoming Naby Keita, it's worth asking: would Liverpool had been better off selling Coutinho in the summer?

Coutinho desired a summer switch to the club he fancied while playing on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona wanted the player, and the Catalan capital club was eventually turned off by Liverpool's exorbitant assessment of the player. It would've been a transfer that made sense for both parties, but Klopp's stubbornness and the defiance of the club's transfer committee proved too much.

A retrospective history

For the sake of the argument, let's suspend disbelief and imagine for a moment that Coutinho was sold to Barcelona in the early stages of the summer transfer window.

Blaugrana general manager Pep Segura's August prediction that both Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele would be in Ernesto Valverde's squad would've come to fruition. "We have to help the team. We're close (to Coutinho and Dembele), we're talking about the conditions but until everything is finalised, we can't say anything else. We hope they will wear a Barca shirt."

In light of Dembele's subsequent injury on his debut start with the Barcelona, Coutinho would have formed a lethal front three with Suarez and Messi. The attacking position would cater to the Brazilian's strengths, and provide Valverde with options on Dembele's return for a club suited to compete on three fronts.

Coutinho's addition would've also allowed the Catalan club to depend less on Suarez amid the Uruguayan's dire stretch of five goals in fifteen matches in all competitions. The acquisition of Coutinho, 25, would've also allowed summer signing Paulinho to play in his more natural deeper position as part of a three-man midfield, meaning Valverde could offer breaks for an aging trio of Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, and Ivan Rakitic. Suddenly, Barcelona is rife with options, and after Luis Enrique shifted Messi's role with Neymar in the squad, Valverde has opted to play the 30-year-old in the false-nine role he assumed under Pep Guardiola.

The results have been staggering even with Suarez's drop in form and Dembele's injury, with Messi leading La Liga with a dozen goals as Barcelona sits atop the table with 11 victories and two draws. Coutinho's attacking sense and penchant for well-timed runs could have been the perfect compliment. Coutinho's addition would have also made Gerard Deulofeu's return to the club whose academy he was once a part of superfluous, and without knocking the Spaniard down a rung, the Brazilian is twice the player of the former Everton outcast.

What now?

While it's likely Klopp and Liverpool's transfer committee will try to continue their firm stance against selling Coutinho, Barcelona isn't exactly hiding the fact it will again try to force the Merseysider's hand in January. CEO Oscar Grau has said the finances are in order to make a move for Coutinho, and all other indications point at bolstering a squad likely to make deep runs in both the Champions League and Copa del Rey while fending off La Liga challengers Valencia, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid.

Whether or not Liverpool sells Coutinho in January, the fee won't be what it could have been in the summer, and after a string of uncharacteristically underwhelming performances for the Brazilian, nor should it be. The Reds may live to rue the decision to not sell Coutinho, and they'll have nobody to blame but themselves.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)