Liverpool legend John Aldridge claims Roberto Firmino is becoming a ‘problem’
The striker has scored just six goals in all competitions this season
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool must find a solution to their Roberto Firmino “problem”, according to club legend John Aldridge.
The former striker has clearly been unimpressed by Liverpool’s No.9, who has seen his attacking output decline this season.
Though Firmino is typically a forward capable of creating chances, he has managed just five assists, and the Premier League champions have been reliant on Mohamed Salah for goals.
"From my point of view as a former striker, there is no real belief in the forwards and it is horrible to see," Aldridge told the Liverpool Echo.
"Look at Firmino, he is a problem. He has lost his mojo completely and I have been one of his biggest fans, but it has been like this for a long time now. It is evident to all the fans.
“Jurgen [Klopp] believes in him, of course, and he is continuing to play to get himself out of the slump but it looks more and more unlikely the longer it goes on.”
The Brazil international is on course to finish the season with fewer than ten goals for the first time since joining Liverpool in 2015.
Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota have all proved more efficient in front of goal, and some expect the latter to eventually replace Firmino in Klopp’s starting XI. Aldridge, though, has not given up on the 29-year-old just yet.
“His demeanour is different and he drops into midfield to do a job there at times, but when you have a number nine on your back, your job is to score goals,” he added.
“He’s lost his belief, totally, his confidence, everything in his game seems to have gone and he just can’t shake himself out of it. Maybe he needs a break? Maybe next season the return of the fans will help him out of it?”
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