Stephen Warnock told the Football Show on Sky Sports (02/11/20 at 11:00 am) that Roberto Firmino has ‘suffered’ in a Liverpool shirt this season and he’s not the same player from previous campaigns.
The 29-year-old has been out-of-form since the start of the season and he is now seeing new boy Diogo Jota produce a number of eye-catching displays from the bench.
Following Jota’s winning goal for Liverpool against West Ham over the weekend, some fans have questioned whether it’s time for the summer signing to replace Jurgen Klopp’s £29 million man [BBC Sport] in the starting XI.
Former Reds defender Warnock shared that Firmino doesn’t have that spark in his game that he used to once have and he is suffering as a result of it.
“For me, he just looks that little laboured when he is making runs,” said Warnock. “It doesn’t seem to be as dynamic. Struggling to get involved in the play.
“Things are bypassing him when you usually see him dropping into areas and linking up play. That’s not really happening for him, at the moment. He has suffered a little bit.
“We’re not seeing the same Roberto Firmino that we saw last season and the season before – he does have a decision to make Jurgen Klopp. Does he rest Firmino for few games and give Jota the chance to fit into that front three?”
Jota started Liverpool’s Champions League win against FC Midtjylland last time out and it won’t be surprised if he keeps his place for their tricky Atlanta tie tonight.
If the former Wolves man turns it on once again then it will leave Klopp with a big decision to make ahead of that huge tie against Manchester City at the weekend.
For years, Liverpool fans have asked for someone to challenge their front three and they now have a player banging on the door, which only benefits the team as a whole.
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