Jurgen Klopp has already partially solved the biggest task in Liverpool’s long-term transition: Darren Wells

It is difficult to identify one area of ​​the Liverpool team that has proven to be the catalyst for their recent success.

The appointment of Jurgen Klopp, along with Liverpool’s outstanding recruiting team, undoubtedly set the club’s path to becoming Premier League, European and world champions.

But in the field it has been very much a team collective.

Make no mistake, the arrivals of Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho brought Liverpool to a new level capable of competing seriously and earning great honors.

But it’s hard to imagine Liverpool’s success without their three brilliant forwards.

Though now five years into his tenure at Anfield, Klopp has already turned his attention to that exact perspective.

The contribution of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to Liverpool in recent seasons has been phenomenal.

Boasting a three-player frontline, all considered world-class true stars is rare and a true luxury.

Which makes replacing them even more difficult.

While there is no immediate rush to do so, all three will have turned 29 by the end of this season, an age that is worryingly approaching a milestone beyond which most forwards are beginning to fade.

It would certainly be a surprise if the trio continued to lead Liverpool’s line when Klopp’s contract expires in 2024.

However, this fact has not gone unnoticed by the Reds manager, who has already partially solved the biggest challenge for Liverpool’s long-term transition.

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It has been an extremely interesting start to the season for Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Their title defense got off to a shaky start when they beat a seven-goal thriller against Leeds, before going to seven conceded in a beating of Aston Villa.

Virgil van Dijk’s season ended with injury in a 2-2 draw at Everton, leaving the title favorites much less secure in the back, especially with Alisson’s concern about injury.

But there is no slowdown in what will be a busy season, with Klopp making sure his men keep up with him as they fight for more titles.

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The general consensus on the arrival of Diogo Jota in the summer was that he would provide good coverage for the current three forwards, with plenty of room for him to develop under Klopp’s supervision.

But just nine games into his Liverpool career, there is already talk that Jota will force his way into the starting eleven instead of one of the current squad.

Such an idea was considered unthinkable since Klopp first assembled his best team, but recent events have ushered in potential change.

Jota came off the bench against West Ham on Saturday to score the winning goal, his third in as many games.

He even had to do it twice, given that his first effort was ruled out for a foul in Mane’s preparation.

But it was his overall contribution that was perhaps the most impressive.

The introduction of the Portuguese forward, along with Xherdan Shaqiri, completely altered the game.

It can be easy to get carried away by a purple patch of form, which is all the former Wolves player has accomplished thus far, but he looks every inch like the Liverpool player.

He adjusts the crimping system to perfection and has proven that it can be a real asset from the bank.

So much so that there has even been talk of Jota making his way into Klopp’s preferred lineup in the not-too-distant future.

Former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness said after Saturday’s win: “I imagine pretty quickly that he will challenge Firmino for a starting position. Why not?

“He has goals, he has one goal in every three games at Wolves. And now he’s in a better team, so that should improve.”

In fact, it was Firmino who broke through against West Ham, prompting Salah to enter as Mane switched to the right flank.

Certainly eliminating Firmino or either of the other two forwards from the regular XI would be a radical decision, and a Klopp likely won’t do it anytime soon.

But the difference now is that now Klopp has another option with which he would have no problem starting in the big games.

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Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher summed it up pretty perfectly: “I don’t think anyone is asking for Firmino to be eliminated as such, but Bobby Firmino is not a huge goal threat,” he said.

“Sometimes he’s on the team in different aspects of his game and I think that’s his pressure, to complement the open players, but you still want goals and assists.”

Jack’s ability to play anywhere in the top three and the option to move others is a huge plus too.

Carragher added: “If Jota brings that, you can put Salah or Mane up front or one of them on the right. It gives him that extra goal threat that Liverpool sometimes lack.”

Moving forward, the challenge will be whether Klopp can find two more to eventually fill in the gaps when it’s time to transition into his front line.

The jury is still out on Takumi Minamino, Rhian Brewster didn’t cut it, and Divock Origi’s time in Liverpool also looks set to come to an end soon.

Meanwhile, Jota is just getting started.