Pundit thinks Jurgen Klopp might do the unthinkable with £29m Liverpool player

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Peter Crouch has suggested in The Daily Mail that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp might drop Roberto Firmino against Manchester City.

The former Liverpool striker, who now works as a pundit for BT Sport, has said that he never thought that Klopp would drop the Brazil international forward, who cost the Reds £29 million in transfer fees when they signed him from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015, as reported by BBC Sport.

Crouch has been impressed by the performance of Diogo Jota since the Portugal international winger moved to the Reds from Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2020.

The Englishman believes that the 23-year-old winger warrants a start for Liverpool in their Premier League game against City away from home at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Crouch wrote in The Daily Mail: “I was of the opinion Firmino was one player who would never be dropped by Jurgen Klopp but, given their respective form, there is now a big decision for Liverpool’s manager.

“I have been so impressed by Jota. He took his goal brilliantly against West Ham and looks like he will make a difference every time he is on the pitch.

“He has given them an element of unpredictability and has made his transfer fee look very shrewd business. He warrants a start in a game of that magnitude against City but I wouldn’t forget about all Firmino has done. It would be a big, big shout if he didn’t start next Sunday.”

Roberto Firmino or Diogo Jota against Manchester City?

Firmino has not been in the best of forms this season, while Jota has made a huge impact coming on as a substitute.

According to WhoScored, the Brazil international, who can also operate as an attacking midfielder, has scored one goal and provided two assists in seven Premier League games and has played 69 minutes in the Champions League.

Jota has scored three goals in five Premier League matches and has scored one goal in 112 minutes in the Champions League, according to WhoScored.

However, Firmino has developed a brilliant understanding with fellow attacking players Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, and Klopp may not be willing to make any change to his front three against City, arguably their main rivals for the Premier League title this season.