Another famous Liverpudlian group could be on the verge of splitting up. Into the difficult fourth album, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane – having become Liverpool’s ‘Fab Three’ in 2017 – are now, as a unit, just not singing from the same hymn sheet.
There is a young upstart hanging around the recording studio this season, however, pushing to be included, with Diogo Jota again bailing out his band members to score the winner for the second Premier League match in a row in Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham.
So it must, therefore, be high time for Liverpool’s strike triumvirate to be given a fresh new look, right? Salah is capable of playing through the middle, with Jota adding much-needed energy out wide.
But as much as Liverpool’s new-found potent weapon deserves a more leading role, keeping Jota in reserve to turn it on from the bench is actually where he should stay for maximum impact.
The candidate who would make way for Jota, should Jurgen Klopp opt for a permanent rebrand of his forward line, is not up for debate.
To say Roberto Firmino is out of form is very much an understatement. While there is more to the Brazilian’s game than goals, given how he acts as the decoy for many a fine, flowing Liverpool attack, his recent numbers make for difficult reading.
Firmino did not attempt a single shot or create a single chance against West Ham, the first time he has failed to do so in a home Premier League match in over two years.
Such an ineffective display has become the norm of late. Jota has scored as many league goals in his last two games as Firmino managed in his last 23. The Brazilian’s creativity has seemingly deserted him, too, with Firmino registering just three assists in his last 20 league games. Indeed, he has created just seven chances for team-mates all season.
On Saturday, he was dropping deep, as he often does, but instead of looking for that penetrative pass he is famed for, Firmino took the easier option.
As soon as Klopp turned to Jota, the whole feel to the Liverpool attack changed. The 23-year-old soon had the ball in the net, only for the Hammers to be handed a reprieve by Liverpool’s recent arch nemesis VAR, determined to make the Reds’ night a frightful one under the rare Halloween full moon hanging above the Anfield Road Stand.
The reprieve was only brief, however, as Jota pounced to decide yet another Liverpool fixture by the odd goal in the Reds’ favour.
“For a defender, it’s not nice when you are used to one player and then you have to get used to another who is pretty good as well,” Klopp said. “That’s why we put Sadio on one side and Diogo on the left.”
And in one, innocuous soundbite, Klopp highlighted just why the ‘Fab Three’ perhaps need to stay as they are. Liverpool won 14 games by the odd goal last season, four more than any other side, and they have already edged three of seven league games by one goal this campaign.
Also, in each home game this season, Liverpool have trailed at some point, but have come back to earn victory. A mighty fine trait when you are gunning for the title, and one that comes about with having strength in reserve.
While Divock Origi has scored some crucial goals for Liverpool, he is nothing like the game-changer off the bench that Jota is and, if Jota were to start, Firmino is not the sort of player to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and decide a tight encounter with one explosive action.
For now, there is no need to panic over Firmino’s form, and no reason to make any drastic changes. Impact subs are a vital part of any title-winning team, and given how happy he will be to be making such an impression so early into his Anfield career, Jota should not expect a regular starting spot anytime soon.
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from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3ef9mDP
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