Thompson: I would have sold Origi before Brewster

Phil Thompson believes that Liverpool sold the wrong striker in the Summer transfer window.

The club legend turned pundit says that Rhian Brewster should have been kept on the books and that he would sold Divock Origi instead.

Brewster had a lot of wraps through his exploits at the under age level but a combination of injuries and the quality and consistency of the front three meant that opportunities at a senior level were restricted to domestic cup games.

Metro via Paddy Power reported Thompson as saying:

“On the outgoings [at Liverpool], I’m disappointed that they decided to let Rhian Brewster go.

“I’d like him to have stayed. I can see some of the reasons why, but if you were asking me whether to go with Brewster or Divock Origi, for me, it’d be Origi going.

“But on the football side, I can see he isn’t playing as many games, so maybe it’ll get him that first team experience but there not too many forwards that have the aggression that Brewster has though.”

While Thompson believed Xherdan Shaqiri was another player that could have been sold, he was more than satisfied with the incomings which he felt filled important requirements within the squad.

“Liverpool had a really decent transfer market. I heard people saying following the defeat that they felt they hadn’t had a good window – but that, to me, is harsh.

“If I was grading their performance in the transfer market I’d rate it a solid 8/10 in terms of the incoming signings.’

“As a Liverpool fan, you have to look at what we actually needed. We needed cover in the left-back position, Kostas Tsimikas fits that bill perfectly, a good quality international player.

“We needed a little bit of creativity, and it had been long talked about, and low and behold we ended up with Thiago. You couldn’t have ticked a box much better.

“He can keep the ball when you want him to but can pass it quickly also. Great signing!

While Thiago was the box-office signing, Thompson was delighted with the purchase of Diogo Jota who had some similarities to how Jurgen Klopp identified Sadio Mane.

“We were looking at someone else in a more attacking position, and I did a lot of Wolves games last year, and I was absolutely raving about Diogo Jota for months!

"This fella could play for all of the big clubs – no disrespect to Wolves – and when Liverpool signed him I thought it was a bit like the Sadio Mane signing. 

"When he joined, people were saying: ‘Sadio Mane? Eh, plays for Southampton, is he any good?’ and look at him now, a superstar. 

“And I think Diogo Jota can bring that to the club once again. He’s a terrific signing."