For much of the past decade, Liverpool have represented little more than a stepping stone for world football's top talent, and though the arrival of new manager Jurgen Klopp will hopefully assuage this trend, it is increasingly likely that star midfielder Philippe Coutinho will leave the club at some stage.
In recent seasons, Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano, Raul Meireles, Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling have all left Merseyside for loftier climes, signalling a downturn in fortunes for the club.
With Coutinho linked with both Real Madrid and Barcelona this season, as suggested by Spanish publication Sport (h/t the Mail) in October, it is highly plausible that he will follow Suarez and Sterling out of the Anfield exit, continuing to breakdown of Brendan Rodgers' title-challenging squad of 2013/14.