Jason Cundy has told talkSPORT that Roberto Firmino does not get in the Liverpool line-up even when Jurgen Klopp makes a substitution, ahead of the Reds visiting Manchester City.
The former Chelsea defender believes the arrivals of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz and influence the pair have produced at Anfield pushed Firmino right back in Klopp’s pecking order. Now Cundy believes the Brazilian will struggle to get on the pitch for the Merseyside natives.
It was a far different outlook for Firmino two seasons ago when he, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were first-choice. Now, Klopp can interchange Mane with Jota, who can also feature centrally. Diaz, too, can also feature at centre-forward, as well as on either wing.
Diaz has been an instant hit at Liverpool since joining Klopp’s side from Porto for £37.5m, plus £12.5m in add-ons, in January. He has three goals and an assist over 13 games across all competitions so far. Jota, meanwhile, has scored 20 and created three over 41 matches.
Only Salah started the latest weekend of Premier League games with more top-flight goals than Jota, too. The Egyptian has struck 20 to the Portuguese’s 14. Firmino has hit just five.
Firmino doesn’t get in Liverpool XI ‘even if you were making a sub’, Cundy says
Firmino will hope to help Liverpool win away to Manchester City on Sunday and move atop the Premier League table. But he has only started nine of his 17 top-flight appearances this season. Of his five league goals so far this term, three also came at Watford on October 16.
With Jota and Diaz available for Klopp to call on, alongside Salah and Mane, Cundy has big concerns over where Firmino – who cost £29m in 2015 – is in Liverpool’s pecking order.
“Going back 18 months to two years ago, most if not all Liverpool fans will tell you he was the link between midfield [and attack],” he said. “He drops deep, drawing defenders out, laying those balls in, making Salah and Mane get on their bike, and it worked brilliantly.
“Since Jota’s come in, Firmino can’t find his way back into the team. And since Diaz’s come in, he’s added another dimension, so Firmino has been pushed right back at the minute… In Liverpool’s best team, even if you were making a sub, he doesn’t get in, for me.”
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