Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has told ESPN the time isn’t right for Diogo Jota to replace Roberto Firmino in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI.
The Reds returned to the top of the Premier League on Saturday with a 2-1 win over West Ham. And it was Jota’s goal that secured the victory.
Understandably, there has been debate over whether Jota should get the nod in place of the Brazilian but Nicol believes Firmino has done enough to retain his place.
“I don’t think the front three, any of them, deserve not to start,” the Scotsman said in response to whether Firmino should be dropped.
“(Klopp) did try to play him on the right-hand side of the middle three against Sheffield didn’t he? That didn’t quite work out.
“He’s definitely better going forward as a part of a front three but I don’t think the time is right yet to make a change.”
Firmino has been Liverpool’s first choice in the number nine role for a long time and has done a brilliant job.
He has been key in helping the Reds towards lifting a Premier League title and a Champions League trophy in the past two seasons.
However, the goals have dried up for the Brazilian, with the number nine netting just one goal in all competitions, while Jota already has four.
Goals aren’t everything to Firmino, though. The Liverpool star provides so much in his false nine position and the goalscoring antics of Mane and Salah more than make up for his own personal failings in front of goal.
Of course it would be nice if Firmino started scoring more regularly but his role is about much more than that. If he was replaced by Jota, the Reds would surely be a different team.
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