The debate has already started – where exactly will new signing Roberto Firmino fit in for Liverpool next season?
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With the 23-year-old Brazilian having already proved his versatility, showing that he’s capable of playing through the middle, up front, or out wide, the possibilities really are endless.
Perhaps the most decisive factors in the decision Brendan Rodgers must make are whether Raheem Sterling is sold to Manchester City, as rumoured by the Daily Mail, and how quickly Daniel Sturridge recovers from hip surgery.
Here are three potential line-ups that we’ve envisaged:
4-3-3 Formation
Ideally, Daniel Sturridge will be back to lead the line soon after the season starts. If this proves to be the case and we stick with the formation that we were using towards the back-end of last season, then there is really only one place the Firmino can fit in – on the right of our front three, in place of Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana.
With Philippe Coutinho guaranteed to take one of the two attacking midfield roles, this will leave Firmino to battle it out with Sterling and Lallana for the one remaining spot, although the latter could potentially drop into the midfield trio as well.
Playing Firmino in this position will allow him to drift out onto the flank, pick up the ball and then cut inside, as he likes to do. The versatility on display will also allow him to interchange with Sturridge and Coutinho – so he can sometimes pop up on the left or also play through the middle – and make it difficult for defenders to track him.
