Jamie Carragher delivered his verdict on Liverpool attackers Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane when analysing their starts to the season.
The former Reds defender shared that Firmino especially looked like he was feeling the effects of playing in the World Cup, that he still believes Salah could get the goals expected of him and that Mane had been the best performer out of the attacking trio so far.
Carragher added that each member of the Reds’ front three deserved slack regarding their performances due to all having been to the World Cup in the summer and because the club doesn’t have a creative midfield playing behind them.
“The attack isn’t producing those performances but I think you have to give them a bit of slack, the fact the three attackers that normally play have all been to the World Cup and Firmino especially has looks like he is feeling the effects,” said Carragher on talkSPORT drive (November 30, 19:50 on playback).
“I still think Salah has still got the goals in him that you expect, I think Mane has been the best performer out of the three in general play really but there’s something lacking in midfield.
“I think the reason why you give them a little of slack is because they don’t have the most creative midfield behind them who are going to be creating chances for them constantly the way you think City have Silva, De Bruyne, the other Silva also.
“Liverpool don’t have those players so the front three at time if they’re not score or getting chances when they do they have to create them themselves with combination between them, which they can do as we have seen it.”
OPINION
The form of the Reds’ attacking trio has been analysed to death as Jurgen Klopp’s side haven’t been scoring goals for fun like they were last season. However it’s understandable why Carragher believes they all deserve slack. While his World Cup reason is hard to buy, given that it’s now December, he’s probably onto something regarding the Reds’ creativity in midfield. At times this season, Klopp’s team have lacked that attacking spark in the heart of their team which has created space and chances for the front three. Yet with that in mind, the Reds’ midfield does seem better defensively and that has seen the club rack up more clean sheets and go undefeated in the Premier League this season. While Mane comes out the best from Carragher delivering individual verdict on each member of the Reds’ current first choice attacking trio, even he will look to improve in the coming weeks. It’s hard to imagine that by the end of season, people will be criticising Firmino, Salah or Mane as it seems very likely that each them will improve their form in front of goal in shortly.
