Jurgen Klopp has disagreed with the notion that Roberto Firmino may be a bit-part player now with Diogo Jota taking the reins as Liverpool's main forward.
The Brazilian was dropped ahead of their Champions League clash with Atalanta after a fine start to the season by Jota.
And Firmino may be wondering his position is under threat following another sublime performance from the new signing.
It is now seven goals in 10 games for the ex-Wolves star and many believe he could become a regular starter.
One of them includes former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, who said: "Jota is hot at the moment.
"It is very, very hard to leave him out against Manchester City.
"It looks inevitable that will be his forward three but you just never know with Jurgen Klopp."
But the Reds coach insisted that Firmino still has a huge role in his team.
“For us it is important that we have more than 11," he said.
"Tonight, Diogo played a super, super game but that says nothing about Bobby, and has nothing to do with me causing headaches.
"I am more than happy that the boys played like they played tonight.”
Firmino has largely been Klopp's go-to man up top, knitting together play between himself, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
It has been hugely successful, winning the Premier League and Champions League over the past two seasons.
And Klopp further stuck by the former Hoffenheim star, insisting Liverpool would not be where they are now without his services.
“Good performances never give me a headache," he said.
"But the world is sometimes in a really a bad place, when at the moment somebody is shining, we speak immediately about another player, and I immediately have to explain why he is in the team.
“We would not even be in the Champions League if Bobby Firmino would not be with us. He will be in the team and he is one of ours.
"A lot of people in the world ask what makes Liverpool special, I would say Bobby Firmino playing."
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