There’s a frustration that’s building at Liverpool. After the watershed defeat of then unbeaten runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp’s side have suffered losses of their own to Swansea and West Brom, faltering against Spurs on Sunday as well. They have squandered the chance to kick on.
The win over City gave a false impression of what Liverpool in the post-Philippe Coutinho age would be like. Klopp matched his team up against Pep Guardiola’s visitors to Anfield, overrunning them with a high energy and high pressing game. That worked against opponents intent on playing their own game, but in match-ups where Liverpool are the predominant side an imbalance has been exposed.
In essence, the departure of Coutinho has resulted in an over-reliance on Roberto Firmino. It’s true that the Brazilian is enjoying his best season in the Premier League, netting 18 times in 33 appearances, but it’s possible that he is now being over-burdened by Klopp with his compatriot and former Liverpool teammate now at Barcelona.
The addition of Mohamed Salah during the summer has undoubtedly given Liverpool more of a varied attack, with Sadio Mane stretching the pitch on the opposite flank. The Egyptian has given the Reds another dimension, as demonstrated by his astonishing goalscoring record this season.
But as much as Salah and Mane provide an outlet in the wide areas, the central unit of Coutinho and Firmino gave Liverpool’s attacking play balance. That balance has now been lost, with opponents now finding it easier to make up against Firmino. It’s no coincidence that the Brazilian form has taken a dip in recent weeks, even if he has found a way to continue his goalscoring.
Klopp clearly has the utmost faith in Firmino, illustrated by comments made by the German last month. “I don't think that it's possible that somebody could get more credit, compliments, praise, whatever you want to say as Roberto gets from us,” he said. “But it's well deserved - everything. He's a fantastic football player. You see him in training and think 'what a work ethic, what an attitude', and he brings it on the pitch as well. He never rests. You have to pull him out, you have to tell him 'come on, stop, sit here, calm’.”
That exuberance comes across in the way Firmino plays the game, but Klopp must find a way to harness it the best he can. The sale of Coutinho was always likely to hit Liverpool hard, such was the quality of the Brazilian playmaker. Now, it’s become clear that his exit has hit Firmino hardest of all.
