Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has called on manager Jurgen Klopp to act on Roberto Firmino’s poor form, writing in an article for the Liverpool Echo.
The Brazilian has scored just once in his opening seven Premier League matches.
Alternatively, summer signing Diogo Jota has notched three in only five appearanes.
This has led many to argue it’s time for Klopp to drop Firmino in favour of the Portuguese international.
Firmino’s form
Roberto Firmino has been an integral part of Liverpool’s famous front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Although the Reds won the league last season, Firmino suffered one of his worst droughts on Merseyside.
The Brazilian managed just one goal at Anfield all season but largely escaped criticism due to his role in the fine scoring form of his teammates.
His poor goalscoring run has continued into this season. He has netted just once in the Reds opening league matches despite starting every game.
This has been exacerbated by the impressive performances of Jota, who has averaged a goal every 72 minutes in a Liverpool shirt.
Still a Firmino fan
One man who knows all too well about the pressures of being Liverpool’s centre-forward is John Aldridge.
Across two seasons at Anfield he managed 50 goals in 83 appearances. He now believes it’s time for Klopp to act on the poor form of the Reds’ current number nine.
“I am still a big Bobby Firmino fan,” he said. “I love him as a player and what he brings to the side. But things are not good with him and haven’t been for some time now.
“He’s dipped well below his best for the last year or so and maybe he does need a rest.
“He certainly needs something because at the moment we’re not seeing the player who has played such a key role in the rise under Jurgen Klopp.
“He’s blunt. He’s lost that sharpness and he’s not getting in the box enough.
“He will know and the manager will know – I do myself as a centre-forward – that it’s just not happening for him at the moment.
“He seems to be doing all his work in areas where it’s not hurting defenders and needs to be causing them problems in and around the box.
“I do still think we need him because he’s a fantastic player but the manager has got to find a way to get him ticking again in the way he was a couple of years ago.”
Klopp’s big decision
Klopp may make that call ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League tie at Atalanta tonight.
The Reds travel to Italy with a host of injuries at the back to worry about.
Nathaniel Phillips could feature again after playing the full 90 minutes in the victory over West Ham at the weekend.
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