Liverpool may have done some brilliant outgoing business this summer, but they’ll never quite match the sale of Philippe Coutinho in 2018.

Coutinho was the star of the show for the Reds when he joined Barcelona in January of that year, but he was never worth £142m.

That Michael Edwards was able to prise such a fee from the Catalans will forever go down in Liverpool history as a watershed moment.

Liverpool used the funds wisely, bringing in Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk and going on to conquer both the Premier League and Champions League.

Neymar left in floods of tears after former Liverpool star scores twice to inflict biggest defeat of his career as Brazilian icon admits: 'I'm ashamed'	Neymar in tears after worst defeat of his career as Philippe Coutinho embarrasses him	Giovanni Leoni start may come sooner than expected after 'shocking' Liverpool performance last night - opinion

For Coutinho, the story went a little differently.

While Alisson and Van Dijk are still at the top of their game, the ‘Little Magician’ is back in Brazil, playing for boyhood club Vasco da Gama.

But while things may not be completely rosy for Coutinho, he enjoyed a sensational evening on Sunday night as he came up against former Brazil youth team colleague Neymar.

Photo by Riquelve Nata/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images

After a miserable time back in England with Aston Villa, Coutinho is now a permanent player for Vasco.

And while they have been having a difficult season so far in the Brazilian Serie A, they hammered Santos 6-0 on Sunday, with Coutinho scoring twice.

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It was all too much for Neymar, who was seen leaving the pitch in tears after being on the receiving end of a thrashing.

After a tight first half ended with Vasco 1-0 up, Santos capitulated in the second period, conceding an incredible five goals in 12 minutes.

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For Coutinho, it was time to enjoy himself.

The 33-year-old was simply rolling back the years as he delivered a much-needed win for Fernando Diniz.

And his second of the night, Vasco’s fifth, will have had Liverpool fans smiling with nostalgia.

Receiving the ball in the Santos penalty box, Coutinho bore down on the goalkeeper before dinking it over him into the net.

It was more than a little reminiscent of Liverpool’s former No.

10 sitting David de Gea down at Old Trafford in the Europa League way back in 2016.

It is almost impossible to say where both Liverpool and Coutinho would be today had the Brazil international never have left the Reds.

SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssists2012/1313352013/1437572014/1552862015/16431272016/17361492017/1820128Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool

Perhaps Liverpool would never have had the financial bravery to go out and sign the likes of Alisson and Van Dijk, but maybe they would have done it anyway.

By now, Coutinho would likely have left regardless, but his career really could have taken a very different path.

Had he stayed there’s no reason he could not have continued to develop into one of the finest players in one of the best teams in the world.

In the end it is hard to believe Coutinho will have too many regrets about a glittering career.

But if he had his time again, surely he would resist the lure of Barca and stay and build a true legacy with Liverpool.