30 Aug 2016 15:55:24
As it doesn't look like there's much to talk about reference transfers I thought I'd go back to one of the key debates of the team and that's who should start up front. Although there's been some calls to play two strikers that seems unlikely to happen at the moment and with Ings a fair way away from the first team there are three realistic possibilities for lone striker; Firmino, Studge and Origi. I've seen some suggestion that Klopp will play horses for courses and that the role will be rotated but with Firmino starting the first three games there I'm getting the feeling that he's first choice and the other two are back ups. I'm very much in team Studge so I wanted to figure out why Klopp is favouring Firmino at the moment.

I want Studge to play quite simply because he is an elite level striker, he currently has the fourth best strike rate of any player in the Premier League era (the three above him all played in far more successful teams) and he has maintained that rate since he returned from injury. Strikers of his calibre should be playing in title winning teams, that is his level and Liverpool should be built around players like him. The counter argument is that he's not reliable and the team should move on, he's only appeared in 53% of PL games for Liverpool and he's only started 41%. To me he's a must for the squad because he offers a two figure goal return even if he plays only part of the season and if he does get over his injuries then we have an outstanding player to push for the title.

It would seem most posters favour Origi up front. Origi is certainly the identikit of a lone striker, he's tall, quick, powerful, strong in the air and on the ground and his movement is good. He's still only 21 and there's a chance he will develop into a excellent striker. My view is that he's still raw and isn't ready to be our main striker, we need someone more consistent as our first choice, maybe he'll be there in the next couple of years but he's still behind both Firmino and Studge.

This brings me to Klopp's favorite, Firmino. A number of people have pointed out that his scoring rate isn't great for a top class striker but if you only consider the games where he's played up front then it's very respectable. Where Firmino really shines in comparison to Studge and Origi is his creativity, he sets up more goals than the other two combined. I believe it is this, plus his 'defend from the front' qualities that make him Klopp's first choice. What worries me is games such as this weekend's when Firmino puts the ball on a platter but our other players lacked the composure to finish off the move, I feel if Studge had been on the pitch we would have scored more.

I'd prefer to see us go back to a two man midfield or play Couts as part of the three, have Firmino drop back and have Studge play ahead of him and Mane. I think we'd score a boatload of goals like this, whether we'd concede so many that it cancelled them out is a separate matter all together.

1.) 30 Aug 2016
30 Aug 2016 17:03:25
Agree with most of that - Sturridge is probably the best goalscorer at the club - drop Lallana or Wijnaldum and put Firminho in just behind Sturridge and see if his creativity can add up to assists!

For me I'd play a 4-2-3-1 with Can and Grujic/ Lucas holding in front of the defence and Coutinho, Firminho and Henderson as the attacking 3 behind Sturridge. Should win a few games that.

2.) 30 Aug 2016
30 Aug 2016 17:31:17
I don't rate firminio. he's slow, wasteful with the ball and often goes missing. I don't see how he fits in the team honestly. He's not a good enough passer to be a no. 10. He's not a good enough finisher to be a no. 9. He doesn't defend well enough to be a winger (nor does he have the pace) . He's gifted when he wants to be but those times are few and far between. Sturridge up top with origi as sub/ rotation.

3.) 30 Aug 2016
30 Aug 2016 17:38:01
Couldn't agree with u more. Saying the same thing for a while too. He's not clinical, but wastes too many passes and chances. Drop him and play studge, mane and courts up front now.

4.) 30 Aug 2016
30 Aug 2016 17:41:27
There can be no justification for Firmino up front and it didn't work more often than it did. People mention the wins against Chelsea and City last season. In Chelsea we were poor first half and finished it level thanks to a wonder goal from Couts. Half time Firmino was substituted with Benteke if I remember correctly. City had a really poor game and I don't think it was much thanks to Firmino. Playing without a striker misfired more often than not like in our poor away game in Dortmund. Firmino can be very good behind the strikers as well. There is no justification in the world Lallana is starting and Origi and Studge are on the bench.

5.) 30 Aug 2016
30 Aug 2016 18:26:27
Interesting analysis. I see it as follows with each having their strengths so I expect Klopp to rotate quite a bit.

Firmino - good at the high press and works well in a fluid front 3, but needs other goalscorers around him to take advantage of the chances he creates and to get into the box when he pulls wide.

Sturridge - our most talented and clinical finisher but he looks a bit sullen at times and he's lost that explosive speed to get in behind defenders. Great when the team is on form but tends to drift too deep when we aren't. Also not as good at holding off defenders and providing an outlet when we're under pressure. Works brilliantly in a twin striker setup.

Origi - probably the best all-rounder of the three and the most natural lone CF, good at holdup play, good in the air, good at getting in behind defenders, but on the flip side he's still a bit raw and not yet as clinical as Sturridge, or as good at pressing/ movement as Firmino.

Overall I can see why Klopp uses Firmino upfront away from home in tough games, as his incessant chasing of the ball stops any easy build up of play from the back for the opposition, and it also creates the odd mistake for him or others to put away on the break. Oddly enough, I think Firminos main weakness upfront is not having another Mane on the other wing. two wide men of Mane's pace and finishing ability would really enhance Firminos impact as a false 9 - Coutinho just doesn't give the same dangerous runs in behind and clinical finishing.

Against away games against weaker opposition, or home games where the certain teams are going to pack the box and play on the break, I would rather Klopp go with Origi. We need his consistent physical presence in the area for the wide players to aim at, and we sorely missed that vs. Burnely. Alternatively I'd even go with twin strikers and put on both Origi and Sturridge. Can't understand why we haven't seen that yet, I think they'll be dynamite together with Mane and Coutinho delivering balls into the box from out wide.

Finally, against sides that look to come and play at Anfield, I'd like see Sturridge on the pitch to try exploit the spaces that creates. With a home game, plenty of possession, and space on offer, I can't see many more dangerous players in world football than Sturridge on the break, I just hope he can regain some of that explosive pace again and make those runs in behind. He was a joy to watch in 13/ 14 feeding on Hendo/ Coutinho's through balls.

6.) 30 Aug 2016
30 Aug 2016 19:44:51
Firmino is a brilliant player, just look at his record of Goals/ Assists last season, for an attacking midfielder playing his first season in a new league, he was very good. I agree that I prefer Sturridge leading the line, but Firmino should be in our best team. Last season his critics popped up now and then on here, but after a brilliant display they quickly his themselves, Villereal, Arsenal, Man City etc He doesn't always pull everything off, and so he does lose the ball, but at least he is trying things, and not just passing sideways.

7.) 30 Aug 2016
30 Aug 2016 19:55:48
Agree with a lot of the OP but team Studge?

I'm with Team LFC and what the manager feels is best is best. Liverpool have been patient with Sturridge now Sturridge needs to be patient with Liverpool.

No doubt he will get back into the first 11 but he can't expect or think he has a right to get straight back in after his injuries. Origi and Frimino did well in his absence and Sturridge will have to earn his starting berth.

9.) 30 Aug 2016
30 Aug 2016 20:24:02
Studge all day for me, on his day he is on another level.

i like origi a lot too, think they would make a decent partnership to be honest.

Firmino i think is better deeper. Could easily replay GW and Lallana at the moment in mf just based on current form. That being said i like firmino a lot and think technically he is extremely good but sometimes he does get a little lost.

We also can't forget about Ingsy! can't see him getting on the pitch that easily though, which is a shame, but if Klopp is playing with 1 up top or a front 3 i can't really see Ingsy playing at all. At least if a few injuries strike we would have a good striker to bring in. I feel sorry for the lad though awful luck to have that injury and he always works 110%.

10.) 31 Aug 2016
31 Aug 2016 00:14:31
The OP is right regarding Firmino. The things he can do, no other striker we have can do. He was superb vs Spurs and has been vs big teams in big games as well. I will say that we can play Studge or Origi with Firmino in behind, especially vs teams who park the bus. Studge has no demands to make because he was injured for a very long time and the club stuck with him throughout hence, he needs to work harder, just like Origi and Firmino did to get the starts, and stop moaning because Klopp owes him nothing.

11.) 31 Aug 2016
31 Aug 2016 03:19:09
Firmino and lallana are no. 1 losers of possession. But they are good in Klopp's good books.