When Liverpool’s first-choice attack is on the field, we’re a pretty much unstoppable force.
That’s been proved by brilliant wins over Chelsea, Arsenal, Leicester, Watford and Hull this term, and the statistics back it up.
When Jurgen Klopp can select his first-choice front-three of Sadio Mane, Coutinho and Roberto Firmino – with Adam Lallana providing onrushing support from central midfield – we’ve won seven and drawn two matches.
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When one of this vital four-man cog is available, we’re less predictable and ultimately a worse side.
Andrew Beasley tweeted the evidence today:
LFC in 2016/17 PL. Lallana, Mané, Coutinho and Firmino:
All play: W7 D2 L0 Points-per-game 2.56
Not all play: W2 D2 L2 Points-per-game 1.33— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) December 14, 2016
This term, all players in our first-choice four-man attack have suffered an injury which has kept them out of a game or more, although none as serious as talisman Coutinho who’s out until the end of the year. In the two games our Brazilian sensation has missed in the top flight since his injury, we’ve collected one point and Firmino has been notably less effective.
We’ve three more games to navigate until he’s back. Hopefully, the other three can stay fit and get us at least two wins in his absence.