Klopp hints at first-choice attack as Liverpool dynasty break-up heralds new era

10 March 2023 , 22:30

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Jurgen Klopp has taken on the responsibility of delivering the next world-class Liverpool forward line after the break up of his famous front three.

The Liverpool manager knows he can never truly replace the trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah in Anfield folklore. With a staggering combined 495 goal contributions in the five years they played together, it “is not possible” for an attack to replicate their heroics, Klopp says.

Instead, he wants to mould a different kind of strike force after Firmino joins Mane in leaving the club in the summer, with the eternal goal scoring machine of Salah bringing on new boys Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo.

That trio haven’t had such a bad start in providing the foundation for next great Liverpool front line, though, with six goals and two assists between them in the 7-0 demolition of Manchester United last weekend.

That was only the fifth time they have appeared together, but with two goals apiece, the signs were richly encouraging, and Klopp believes it is down to him to accommodate all three in a successful Liverpool side - just as he did when he brought the fabled trio together.

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Speaking about Salah, Mane and Firmino, he said: “It is not possible to replicate it, because that was a special relationship footballing wise - it worked out so well because (all three) could play to his 100 per cent strength.

“But the system we found for the boys helped them all, and they would see it exactly the same way. So, the challenge for us now is to replace a sensational player or formation (with something different).

Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane underpinned Liverpool's successes in recent years (PA)

"My job is to make sure we bring them into the right positions and we play the right system for them in the right way and then the boys can do what they can do best playing football."

Klopp found a perfect balance against United, with all three inter-changing positions to drag United out of their usual organisation and exploit the resulting space in the penalty area.

And he revealed that Salah is playing a key role in the new formation by helping the two 23 year olds - who can underpin the strike force for the next decade - understand their roles, along with Diogo Jota, whose importance is underrated.

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Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo could form the basis of Jurgen Klopp's next dream front three (AFP via Getty Images)

Klopp added: “Of course Mo is working with them to help them. We don't talk about rocket science here but of course it is clear the boys have to adapt to the way we want to play, but built on the basis they give us the skill-set they have.

“They all have a good relationship with each other, and I hope no-one forgets how massively we miss Diogo. He's a super smart football player. It’s obviously very cool when the boys are new that the excitement is there.

“When you come into a big club, good football, sensational stadium, yeah, the boys are ready to push themselves to wherever - nobody knows where at the moment - but they are very young, they have a lot of football years to come and we will see.”

Klopp has a selection headache this weekend of a good kind for once, though he admitted he must leave “five players out of the squad that deserve to be in it”.