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Liverpool’s three forwards will soon have to break up and Roberto Firmino could be the first man to make way, according to Sky sports expert Jamie Carragher.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Firmino have been instrumental in Liverpool’s success with Jurgen Klopp, scoring 183 Premier League goals between them in the past four seasons.
But his form has come under scrutiny of late following a three-game Premier League goalless streak, including Sunday’s goalless draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Speaking in Monday night footballCarragher noted that the trio have already been together longer than other big three forwards in the Premier League and, while he expects Mane and Salah’s form to improve, he is less sure of Firmino’s long-term prospects.
“When we talk about this Liverpool, we talk about the three forwards,” Carragher said. “It’s almost like they came as a package.
“The reason I say Liverpool’s three forwards are unique is not that they are better than three other forwards, it is how long they have been together.
The great forwards of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City were together for up to three years.
“They are now in their fourth season and the big three forwards in the Premier League have usually only been together for two or three years.
“Now we are in the fourth year for Liverpool and maybe we go into the fifth year because they all have two or three years left on their contracts.
“They are in their late 20s and sooner or later those three forwards are going to have to break.
“You can’t, in two years, say ‘let’s buy a new front three’ and replace them all. It will change over time.
“Right now, I think Mane and Salah are going through a bad shape. It happens.
“I’m still confident that Mane and Salah will score goals again, but I have to say I’m worried about Firmino.”
Firmino’s goal totals in the Premier League have declined from season to season over the past four years. His lack of goal threat is a problem for Carragher, but the Sky sports The expert is more concerned with other aspects of his game.
“He’s never been seen as the scorer, that’s the responsibility of the other two,” Carragher said.
“But he’s there to contribute and when they’re not scoring, and I feel like he needs to be a bigger goal threat.
“Yesterday [against Manchester United]He had a couple of chances, but he’s not hitting the ball well. Their incorporation of players into the game has also decreased.
Firmino’s goals are down and so are his numbers of possessions won in the last third
“And also the back pressure and the recovery of the ball has decreased with Firmino, and not only this season.
“I’m actually going back to last season, when Liverpool won the league. I was a little worried then and I was thinking, ‘Can you turn it around this season?'”
Firmino’s numbers in possessions won in the final third have dropped dramatically this season, from 1.11 per 90 minutes to 0.42 per 90 minutes.
“He was the best in the league at that, but it’s a massive drop, more than 50 percent from last season,” Carragher said.
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FREE TO SEE: Highlights of the goalless draw between Liverpool and Manchester United in the Premier League.
“Last season, when he wasn’t getting the goals and assists, you said ‘well, look what else he’s doing from the front.’
“I’m sure everyone’s numbers to push are down this season, but that’s a big drop for me.
“He’s the one that worries me, either due to lack of form or maybe just that slow decline as he gets older, which is natural for any attacker when he reaches 20 because he doesn’t play as long as players from other parts of the world. field.
“It is almost unprecedented what Liverpool have done with their three forwards, how long they have been together and how often they play, and sooner or later those three forwards will have to break.”
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