Christian Pulisic Borussia Dortmund 08262018Martin Rose

'Pulisic is the Coutinho-type Liverpool need' - Klopp urged to launch Dortmund raid

Christian Pulisic is the “Coutinho-type” playmaker that Liverpool are lacking, says John Aldridge, with Jurgen Klopp being urged to raid former club Borussia Dortmund for the United States international.

The Reds saw a key creative influence head out of Anfield in January when Philippe Coutinho completed a big-money transfer to Barcelona.

No move was made to fill that void at the time, while Xherdan Shaqiri was the only attacking addition to be drafted in over the summer.

Article continues below

The Swiss star has impressed during his short spell on Merseyside, but there is a feeling that another ball-player is required in order to get Liverpool firing on all cylinders.

Pulisic has been mooted as the man to take that No. 10 role in the past and continues to catch the eye for Borussia Dortmund and the USMNT.

Aldridge believes Klopp should now be plotting an approach, telling the Liverpool Echo amid reports that the 20-year-old is also a target for Premier League rivals Chelsea: “Christian Pulisic would be a fantastic signing for Liverpool.

“I know Borussia Dortmund have said he's not for sale in January but next summer he will only have a year left on his contract.

“I watched him score two goals against us for Dortmund in that pre-season friendly in America and he really impressed me. 

“He's a player Klopp knows all about and he has tried to take him to Liverpool previously.

“Pulisic has got pace and he would certainly fit our style. With the way he picks the ball up and goes past players, he's a Coutinho-type.”

Jurgen Klopp Liverpool 2018-19Getty Images

Liverpool may be forced into making a move if a transfer scramble is sparked in January, but Klopp has suggested that he will be resisting the urge to bring further fresh faces into his squad over the winter.

“Klopp has said he doesn't intend to add to the squad in January. If that proves to be right then we need those who have been on the fringes so far to step up,” added former Reds striker Aldridge.

“We need Fabinho to settle down and keep improving in the second half of the season. We also need Naby Keita to show what a good player he can be because we've only seen flashes of what he can do so far.

“The same goes for the likes of Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge, who have found their opportunities limited.

“You need game changers who can come off the bench when things aren't going right and make an impact.”

Advertisement