When Roberto Firmino leaves Anfield after eight trophy-laden seasons, Liverpool will be losing more than just one of their best forwards of the modern era.
The Brazilian's 107 goals in 353 appearances have seen him sweep the board on silverware under Jurgen Klopp, as he formed a formidable partnership in attack with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane that delivered not only the Champions League but also a first league title to Merseyside in 30 years.
Firmino's status as a Liverpool hero is already secured, but his expected departure at the end of the current campaign will lead to another significant moment - the vacating of the Reds' number nine shirt.
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Arguably behind only number seven in its importance to the history of the club, the shirt that has previously been worn by the likes of Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Fernando Torres has been looked after with distinction by Firmino ever since he took it on following Salah's arrival in 2017.
But the question now is, with Firmino on his way, who will wear the vacated number nine shirt next season?
A trawl through the hundreds of social media posts on the matter suggests that Darwin Nunez is the stand-out favourite to be Liverpool's number nine come August.
@Tishen_LFC wrote on Twitter: "Darwin Nunez now has to choose between switching his number to #9 or #7," while @PrimeRibona added: "Darwin Nunez to inherit the number 9 next season?"
@c76558575 got a bit carried away and in capital letters Tweeted: "DARWIN NUNEZ LIVERPOOLS NUMBER 9," while @TheLiverpoolEra had an ambitious delve into the future, proclaiming: "Shirt numbers in the summer: Darwin Nunez - 9 Luis Diaz - 7 Jude Bellingham - 8."
@David_Ansah1473 is a big fan of the departing Brazilian, but thinks Nunez is the man to step into the hailed number. He wrote: "LEGEND. Hand shirt number to Darwin Nunez."
Calls for Nunez to become Liverpool's new number nine will likely be welcomed by the song-creators of the Kop, who could have the opportunity to revive and old classic, previously reserved for Spaniard Torres. That hasn't been lost on @futarii1, who Tweeted: “Darwin Nunez, Liverpool’s number 9 na nananana na na.”
Nunez joined the Reds last summer and has scored six premier league goals so far this season, but was unfortunate to see a possible seventh chalked off by VAR during Wednesday's night's 2-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield.
But the Uruguayan, who has shown clear signs of settling into his role at Liverpool, knows all about the number nine shirt, having worn it as a striker for Benfica before making a big-money move to the Premier League. Nunez score 34 goals in all competitions for the Eagles last season, helping to secure his switch to Anfield. And just 12 months on, he could be about to take on one of Anfield's most treasured possessions as Firmino bids farewell after a glorious reign as Liverpool's number nine.
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