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Jurgen Klopp has made a number of important decisions during his time as Liverpool manager, and most of the time, he takes them well.
The German has transformed the Reds from the top of the Europa League standings into Premier League winners and Club World Cup champions.
And during his tenure at Anfield, the only player to possibly personify Klopp’s reign is Roberto Firmino.
Signed by former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers in June 2015, it wasn’t until Klopp arrived three months later that the Brazilian found his true place in the team.
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Five years later, Firmino is now one of the most praised forwards in world football and has been inscribed in Anfield folklore.
Firmino’s sixth season with the Reds begins this weekend against Leeds United, but there have been suggestions that more reinforcements are needed.
Indeed, Firmino’s scoring record is such that he is often singled out as the man who could be sacrificed for a more traditional number nine. But that’s missing the point.
The Reds were strongly linked to a move by Timo Werner, who eventually signed rivals Chelsea, while Watford’s Ismaila Sarr is another attacking option evaluated by Liverpool.
While Reds fans are understandably eager to see new arrivals, in terms of the forward department, there is possibly no one who can operate in Klopp’s system quite like Firmino.
Do Liverpool need a new striker? Let us know in the comments below.
Take for example the recent friendly win over Blackpool, where the Brazilian was the only member of the three forwards to play the full 90 minutes.
More alive than Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Firmino scored a brilliant heel and provided a beautiful assist to Takumi Minamino in the Tangerines’ 7-2 win.
In preparation for Minamino’s goal, Firmino helped recover the ball on the edge of his own penalty area, before rushing back onto the field to catch a pass from Curtis Jones.
Firmino is vital to the way Liverpool play, and bringing in a different striker would mean using a different style on the play or being patient as the newcomer learns to play like the Brazilian.
Neither situation is ideal for Klopp, especially with the change of course for the new season shorter than usual.
Liverpool are arguably in the strongest position they have been in for a generation, and Firmino is one of the main reasons.
Eventually, Klopp and Liverpool will have to plan their life after Firmino, but arguably now is not the right time to find an heir to the Brazilian throne.
When that will be, only Klopp knows, but one thing is for sure, Firmino will definitely need to be replaced when that time comes.
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