Liverpool legend Dietmar Hamann believes Roberto Firmino has no chance of being included in Jurgen Klopp’s XI during Sunday’s titanic Premier League clash with Manchester City, speaking to talkSPORT (6 April, 9am).
There was a time, not so long ago, when Liverpool’s forward-line almost picked itself. Mo Salah on the right, Sadio Mane on the left, Roberto Firmino through the middle. It was, along with death and taxes, one of the sure-fire things in life.
Things are different now. These days, one of the club’s longest-serving players is, what, fifth in Klopp’s pecking order?
The arrivals of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz mean game-time is increasingly hard to come by for Firmino in 2022. A case in point; He’s started just ten games combined in the Premier League and Champions League this term.
That does not mean Firmino doesn’t still have a big role to play in what will be a gruelling end to a campaign that could still end in an unprecedented treble. As recently as February, he scored crucial goals against both Inter Milan and Arsenal after all.
But Hamann believes that Firmino’s latest outing – a rather anaemic cameo in Tuesday’s 3-1 Champions League quarter-final victory over Benfica – has consigned him to a watching brief ahead of this weekend’s trip to title-rivals City.
“Firmino won’t play. Firmino, when he came on, did look off colour,” says Hamann, who played for both clubs in his Premier League career. “I didn’t like the way he played.
“It’s a tough one. After yesterday’s performance (vs Benfica), Diaz probably has to play. I’d probably start with the guys who played yesterday, with Mane and Salah. Then again. Jota is always a player who can be relied upon.”
Liverpool or Man City?
Hamann is backing Liverpool to leapfrog Pep Guardiola’s side at the top of the table on Sunday, insisting that Klopp has the superior options at both ends of the pitch right now.
“If you look at Liverpool in recent weeks, I think they’ve got a swagger about them. A confidence,” the former Germany international adds.
“Yesterday, they played a good first half, then a fragile half hour but they still found a way to score the third goal which probably puts the tie to bed.
“Defensively, I just think they’re a little bit more solid. (Ruben) Dias probably won’t play for City.
- READ MORE: Fulham’s XI if they kept their top stars
“City only play one way. I think, as we saw yesterday, Liverpool can score all sorts of goals and I really do think Liverpool won’t get beat. I quietly fancy Liverpool because, for me, there’s just not a better team around.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
