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Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is expected to choose between Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino when choosing his side to face Manchester City.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp just wasn’t having it, no matter how gently the question was pushed in your direction, no matter how carefully worded the follow-up.
Klopp wouldn’t be attracted to explain why Roberto Firmino is so important to his set-up, because it felt like an insult to him that it was necessary in the first place.
After five years at Liverpool, the Brazilian forward has, in Klopp’s eyes, gave so much that anyone who still needs information on his qualities has not been paying attention.
He could still bank Firmino on Sunday, when Liverpool travel to potential title rivals Manchester City, but Klopp scorned the need to go over the history of the former Hoffenheim player.
Klopp’s Friday Response it was expected.
However, in December 2016, just over a year after both men arrived in Liverpool, Klopp was more inclined to evaluate the forward who was awarded in the Bundesliga at the end of Brendan Rodgers’ reign at Anfield.
“He is a very important player, a player who connects, a spiker, a fighter, a defender, the first defender – that’s important, “Klopp said.
“Many things he is good at they are very important to us. “
That verdict certainly still stands, as far as Klopp is concerned, but Has Firmino’s game changed in the years since he performed the performances that earned so much praise?
A fake number nine but the real deal
Firmino’s jersey number is a red herring. As far from a classic number nine as a forward can get, his game, as Klopp craftily had it four years ago, is that of a player who ties the game together, puts pressure on and thwarts opponents and, yes, that when the moment can also save an opportunity.
Nobody in the Premier League won possession in the last third of the field more than Firmino last season, with a total of 37 such cases putting him well ahead of Burnley’s Dwight McNeil and Southampton’s Nathan Redmond (both 35).
Also last season, when Liverpool reached the title, only Firmino’s teammate Mohamed Salah (322), Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling (302) and Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha (239) He had more touches in the rival area than him (231).
He participated in 194 open play sequences that ended in a shot on goal., Opta’s stats show, averaging 5.8 sequences per Premier League game. Of them, 26 ended in a goal.
Each of these figures for Firmino was an improvement over the previous campaign, though his goal total fell from 12 in 2018-19 to a more modest nine in 38 games.
Since Salah scored 19, Sadio Mané scored 18, and six others scored four or more, Firmino’s reduced contribution of goals was not the least problem.
Along came Jota
Diogo Jota is believed to have cost Liverpool over £ 40 million when he arrived in September from the Wolves, with Klopp entering the market after failing for the first time with efforts to bring Timo Werner to Anfield.
The message to Liverpool’s three established forwards was clear: here is competition.
Klopp generously pointed out the likes of Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino and Xherdan Shaqiri at Friday’s press conference. highlighting the other strikers in Liverpool’s ranks and saying, “Almost all of them meet us in their moments.”
But it feels strongly like a case of having to do four out of three for the big games at least.
Firmino has been a mainstay of teams that have accumulated 99 and 97 points in the last two Premier League seasons, but His place seems to be the most threatened by the appearance of Jota..
The new kid’s hat-trick against Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday it was an important moment, so it might be difficult for Klopp not to select him against City.
Firmino has been involved in just three Premier League goals (one goal, two assists) in seven appearances this seasonWhile Salah (seven goals) and Mané (four goals, one assist) are becoming essential teams.
Jota has started twice and made three appearances as a substitute in the Premier League and he already has three goals.
Without a doubt, there is a strong case for his involvement on Sunday.But are you sure to start?
Why change what is not broken?
It remains to be seen if Klopp starts with Jota or Firmino. There is a feeling that Klopp doesn’t look too closely at the end result, but sees a bigger picture.
Firmino continues to create opportunities at a rate roughly equivalent to recent seasons – Their numbers went from an average of 1.5 chances created per 90 minutes in 2018-19 to 1.6 last season and are slightly below 1.4 this season.
Nor is he shunning the ball., averaging 52 touches in games this season compared to 50 in 2019-20, and his passes per game have risen from 35 last season to 39 in Liverpool’s opening games this time.
In terms of his involvement in those open play sequences that end in one shot, Firmino has dropped slightly to 5.3 in 2020-21, and to 0.5 in sequences ending in goals.
Their numbers have dropped elsewhere as well., with Firmino gaining possession in the final third only twice this league campaign, and averaging 2.9 recoveries per game compared to 4.1 last season and 3.9 the year before.
It is worth noting, however, that Firmino’s role seems to have changed this season. He’s playing deeper, presumably by design rather than personal inclination.
In the attacking half of the field, Firmino sees much more ball in the opening third than higher up the field, with 37.14 percent of his touches in games there, compared to 27.18 percent over the course of the Premier League last season.
That is a significant leap, but fits with Klopp’s explanation above about his versatility and skill set. If Liverpool need to find more creativity in midfield, then Firmino going back a bit to pick up the ball closer to the midfield gives them that.
Four in three will not go
Klopp noted Friday that Jota traded one hardworking team for another leaving Wolves for Liverpool, and how that made it a natural transition.
“Nuno is a very, very demanding coach, that’s why he knows that an offensive player has to do different jobs; not just create and score, has to work hard and all this kind of stuff“Klopp said.
“It’s great for us that Diogo could settle down so quickly and that he can gain confidence so soon because it makes everything easier. “
Maybe not everything is easier, even though.
Klopp has a decision to make this weekend – one of his most scrutinized selection options as Liverpool boss.
He chose his four star forwards against Sheffield United, but surely that was something unique.
It must do well given the strength of the opposition.. The obvious decision may not be the right one. All eyes will be on that team sheet Sunday afternoon.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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