John Aldridge has written in The Sunday World that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp cannot start Roberto Firmino against Manchester United at Old Trafford today.
Liverpool will take on United away from home at Old Trafford in the Premier League in a few hours’ time.
Firmino started for the Reds against Newcastle United in their last game and could not make a massive impact.
Former Liverpool striker Aldridge has said that the Brazil international forward should have been benched a long time ago, and believes that the 29-year-old simply cannot start against United today.
Aldridge wrote in The Sunday World: “Meanwhile, Roberto Firmino should have been put on the bench a long time ago because his contribution to the team no longer justifies his selection. I was a big fan of Firmino for much of his time at Liverpool.
“But his body language is all wrong now and even though Diogo Jota missed a lot of chances against Newcastle last weekend, he looks like he might score a goal if a chance comes his way.
“That has not been the case with Firmino for a long time and Klopp needs to be bold and pick a team that gives him a chance to finish this agonising season on an unlikely high with a win in the game that matters more than any other.”
Should Roberto Firmino start against Manchester United?
Firmino is not having the best of seasons. The Brazilian forward is not scoring enough goals and is unable to contribute much to the team in terms of creating chances.
The 29-year-old – who has been on the books of Liverpool since the summer of 2015 when he joined from Hoffenheim for a transfer fee reported by BBC Sport to be worth £29 million – has scored six goals and provided five assists in 29 Premier League starts this season, according to WhoScored.
Diogo Jota is fit and available, and it would make sense for Liverpool manager Klopp to include the Portugal international forward in a front-three alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Jota is more dynamic than Firmino and is in better form, and his movement and ability to score goals will trouble the United defence.
According to WhoScored, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star has scored eight goals in 10 Premier League starts for Liverpool this season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
