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Former Liverpool winger feels the Reds need to sign a central defender in January
Steve McManaman is convinced that Roberto Firmino is still ahead of Diogo Jota in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool pecking order.
Klopp’s Liverpool won the Premier League last season with an offensive trio of Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
The trio’s attacking displays were top-notch last season, but Klopp didn’t rest on his laurels as he attacked the Lobos for Jota’s signing.
Portuguese striker Jota has started racing at Anfield and was right in his most recent outing: a 1-1 draw with Brighton at the weekend.
Firmino’s return on goal is inferior to Jota’s, but the Brazilian’s skill set is broad and he works so hard on the ball that McManaman feels he remains Klopp’s preferred option in attack.
“I still think that Jurgen Klopp likes the fact that he can trust Firmino, Mane and Salah right now,” said McManaman, “as much as Jota has been absolutely fantastic.
“I think he (Jota) would still be the one to get out at this point. If his form continues, that could change, but he won the league with the other three, so he knows they can fully trust them.”
McManaman feels the only area of concern for Liverpool is the central defender, following the injuries of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
The former Liverpool player does not think the club should regret the sale of Dejan Lovren as the injuries could not have been planned, but he would like the Reds to get stronger in January.
“I think the only area is in the central defensive area,” McManaman said. “I don’t believe it in any other area of the field.
“People keep saying they let Lovren go and never replaced him, which is true, but you don’t expect two or three injuries in the same positions.
“If you had the money, would you bring someone? Yes. I don’t know what the financial situation is. Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk are out for a significant amount of time. He can move Fabinho back to the midfield area where he has been fantastic.
“If they have the finances, it’s a no-brainer to go and sign a central midfielder, so if you have too many central defenders, you fix it at the end of the season.
“It would be a no-brainer and he would look for a superior central defender and deal with the numbers later.”
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