4) Roberto Firmino
Liverpool’s biggest enigma right now is undoubtedly the Brazilian summer signing. Firmino started life on Merseyside slowly, deployed out of position by Brendan Rodgers and struggling with an injury early on. He was forgiven poor performances as a result, and fans began to rub hands with glee after seeing the £29m attacker ooze class at the Etihad alongside Coutinho. He was arguably our best player in the 4-1 demolition of the Premier League favourites, and some even began to make Luis Suarez comparisons. These were naive based on what we’ve seen since, with Firmino abysmal against Bordeaux, Swansea Newcastle and FC Sion – contributing virtually nothing in the final third. How can a player with so much talent go missing so badly? Difficult to exactly say, but Coutinho’s return will help him, with his fellow Brazilian most obviously on his wavelength. With Benteke poor at the moment too, Firmino might do best as a False 9, with Coutinho and Lallana on either side – as worked so well against Chelsea and City. Whatever Klopp decides, Firmino needs to show us more, or he risks labelling himself an expensive flop.
5) Adam Lallana
Lallana always plays ‘well’. He’s always tidy on the ball, always harries the opposition. But we simply don’t see enough end product. The 27-year-old has the technical ability and creative spark to assist and score goals, but it doesn’t happen anywhere near enough. Attribute wise, Lallana’s got the lot, bar serious pace, but clearly lacks killer instinct. Take Sunday as an example: through on goal in the 80th minute with Liverpool desperate for an equaliser, the playmaker shoots tamely at the keeper. In his last nine matches for club and country, Lallana’s notched just one assist – a headed knockdown – failing to contribute in the thrashings of City or Southampton. Klopp likes Lallana, because more than any other attacker, the Englishman will press and work tirelessly. But his fondness for the former Saints skipper will wane unless he becomes entirely more clinical in the coming months.
