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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
John Aldridge

Liverpool transfer gamble could be just what Roberto Firmino needs

Liverpool scored four against Leeds and could have had more but the front three still didn't look quite right to me.

Mo Salah looked so sharp banging in his hat-trick and Sadio Mane played well and was unlucky not to score.

Bobby Firmino still seems to have the shackles around him a little bit though.

He got involved in midfield and showed some nice touches but, again, in the box at Anfield it wasn't happening for him.

He missed a good chance second half after a great link up with his strike partners and obviously we all remember how it took him until the final home game of last season to score a league goal at Anfield.

I don't know if that's still playing on his mind because he didn't look himself in the box.

There's been a lot said about Liverpool's stance in the transfer market this summer but I can't help but feel it might do Bobby some good if he did have someone breathing down his neck for his place so he knows he's got to score goals.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of his and he does some great things for the front three which often goes unnoticed but if you're a number nine, you have to score goals.

That's the bottom line and he knows that. He's not been doing that at Anfield for the last year or so and it needs to change.


I understand the club's general position on transfers this summer but it is a bit of a gamble in a couple of positions because we've been relatively lucky with injuries the last couple of seasons but you can't always bank on that.
 

Transfers themselves are also something of a gamble for Liverpool as it's hard to improve on what we've got and also convince players to sign who know they probably won't be first choice. But I still think we could do with another goalscorer.

In an ideal world, the fans would have loved to have seen us get Timo Werner or someone of that ilk but it wasn't possible.

Freshening the squad up, even if it's just one player, keeps everyone on their toes  and adds to the competition for places.

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It's easier said than done of course! It's difficult for the manager and those who work with him on transfers in the current climate and it should not be forgotten that Liverpool have enjoyed tremendous success in recent years with relatively little outlay when you take into account the players sold.

Plenty of teams have outspent us over the last four years, even the likes of Everton, which is great testimony to everyone concerned at Liverpool that we have still managed to go from strength to strength.

If people can't see that then they're daft. Liverpool have found an approach that works for them and they've got a belief in the way the club should be run which deserves respect because look how successful it's been.



We've done it the right way but, with the transfer window still open for a few more weeks yet, it would be nice if the manager could be given a bit to spend because 'the Liverpool way' was always to strengthen when you're on top if you can.

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