Paul Ince has warned Liverpool of the further problems they could face if they don't extend Roberto Firmino's contract.
The 31-year-old has entered the final six months of his deal at Anfield after enjoying eight years with the Reds. On Tuesday, the Brazilian's agent provided an update on the situation surrounding his future on Merseyside, suggesting that discussions are "on the right track".
Firmino has made 348 appearances since swapping the Bundesliga for the Premier League and remains one of the most used players since Jurgen Klopp was installed as Liverpool manager.
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"The reason that Mane, Firmino and Salah were unplayable a couple of years ago was because of Roberto Firmino," Ince argued, speaking to Boylesports. "He used to pull centre-halves out of position to allow Salah and Mane space to run into.
"As much as Liverpool have invested in very good players like Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, they don't do what Firmino does.
"If I was Liverpool, I'd be looking to keep hold of him."
Rio Ferdinand spoke over the weekend and questioned the decision to sell Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich. The former Manchester United defender admitted that it should've been Firmino who departed as opposed to the Senegal international.
"Why didn't they just pay him [Sadio Mane] the money to stay?" he said speaking on the FIVE Podcast.
"I think they let the wrong one go, they should've let Firmino go, I just don't understand how you let someone who is world class at that moment in time, ideally who would've liked to have stayed if you gave the contract he was looking for or something similar to what Salah got.
"I just can't get my head around it, every Liverpool fan must be sat there thinking 'wow, how have we let this slip through our hands, a player of that calibre?'"
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