Phil Thompson has urged Liverpool to re-sign Philippe Coutinho this summer, but believes the Reds should not look to bring Raheem Sterling back to Anfield.
Coutinho joined Barcelona in a £142m move in January 2018 but is currently on loan at Bayern Munich have struggled in Spain and appears to have no future at Camp Nou.
Sterling, meanwhile, left the Reds in a controversial £49m move to Manchester City in the summer of 2015 but recently hinted, along with his agent, he would be keen on a return to Merseyside despite his success at the Etihad with Pep Guardiola's side currently facing a two-year ban from the Champions League.
Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool captain Thompson is keen to see his old club make a move for the Brazilian but it's a different story for the England international despite the Reds legend anticipating him to leave Man City.
"Would you take Coutinho back? I would, in a heartbeat," he said. "I think he's a creative genius.
"You look back at his Liverpool career and he was absolutely terrific.
"He's not too old and I still think he could come back.
"It probably won't happen but he's that creative player just off the front three that would probably just tip the balance."
Turning his attentions to Sterling, Thompson continued: "I think the time for a return has gone. I still felt he had a lot to do when he left Liverpool.
"I thought he was a good young player whose finishing could be better, and he’s become a great player.
"I would think that when Pep Guardiola leaves Manchester City, Sterling will move on.
"The way Raheem is, Real Madrid, Juventus or Barcelona – one of those super-clubs – will tempt him."
