Roberto Firmino can follow Francesco Totti example as…

Roberto Firmino can follow Francesco Totti example as Liverpool solve attacking dilemma

For a long time, Roberto Firmino was inadvertently a problem for Liverpool.

Firmino's prowess in what became loosely known as a 'false nine' position was such he was among the first names on the teamsheet for Jurgen Klopp, a key cog in a forward line alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane capable of frightening the life out of Pep Guardiola.

The Manchester City boss wasn't alone, though. With Firmino having locked down the central striking role, recruiting competition for the established attack became a troublesome business for the Reds, with potential targets all too aware they faced a difficult task in ousting the Brazilian as a regular starter.

Timo Werner, for example, chose Chelsea instead. Nothing lasts forever, however, and after Diogo Jota and then Luis Diaz took on the challenge of breaking up the status quo, so Firmino quietly slipped down the pecking order, evidenced by his failure to start any of last season's three cup finals for Liverpool.

He wasn't helped by persistent injury problems that also hampered his international aspirations to the point not featuring for his country since July last year contributed greatly to him being overlooked by Brazil for the imminent World Cup, despite being the top-scoring player for his country in the Premier League this campaign.

While discussions over the summer largely centred on the contract situation of both Mane and Salah - the former departed as the latter renewed - the situation of Firmino, also about to enter the last year of his Liverpool deal, was largely overlooked in the belief his time at Anfield would draw to a natural conclusion.

But the Reds' injury travails this season have allowed Firmino a revival, the 31-year-old scoring nine goals and four assists in 21 appearances, his most recent strike coming in last Saturday's 3-1 home win over Southampton. Indeed, only four Premier League players have scored more goals in club competitions this campaign.

Klopp revealed before the game talks were ongoing regarding a new deal, while on Tuesday a report in Germany, where Firmino played with Hoffenheim before moving to Anfield in 2015, indicated the player was confident an extension would be agreed.

That undoubtedly would come with an acceptance from the player of a shift in his role from regular starter to squad player. That may even arrive in the New Year, with Jota and Diaz hopefully back to full fitness and £85million man Darwin Nunez returning to the central role for which he was bought during the last transfer window.

Having never been the quickest in terms of pace, the advancement of years shouldn't impact too much on Firmino's game. Think of Teddy Sheringham, Peter Beardsley and Francesco Totti, similar players never the quickest but able to play well into their 30s due to their natural ability and clever footballing brain.

Firmino may no longer be the first-choice number nine, but there's nothing false about the contribution he can still make for Liverpool both this season and, hopefully, beyond. And as an alternative to the new-look attack, he'll soon fill the role Klopp and the recruitment team found so difficult to address during his Anfield peak.

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