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John Aldridge expresses concern over ‘shackled’ Liverpool star Roberto Firmino

Liverpool legend John Aldridge believes the Reds may need to strengthen in attack, insisting that Roberto Firmino currently has ‘the shackles around him’.

Jurgen Klopp’s team got their 2020/21 Premier League campaign off to a winning start at the weekend with a 4-3 win over Leeds United.

FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-LEEDS
(Photo by PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Reds were battled all the way by Marcelo Bielsa’s side, who ultimately couldn’t quite find a fourth equaliser to take a point at Anfield.

Mo Salah scored a hat-trick, with Virgil van Dijk also on the scoresheet, meaning there was no goal for Brazilian Firmino.

He did have a couple of chances but was unable to convert, and Aldridge reckons some new competition might be needed to get the South American firing more regularly again.

: “Bobby Firmino still seems to have the shackles around him a little bit though.

(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

“He got involved in midfield and showed some nice touches but, again, in the box at Anfield it wasn’t happening for him.

“There’s been a lot said about Liverpool’s stance in the transfer market this summer but I can’t help but feel it might do Bobby some good if he did have someone breathing down his neck for his place so he knows he’s got to score goals.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of his and he does some great things for the front three which often goes unnoticed but if you’re a number nine, you have to score goals.”

TBR’s View – Klopp unlikely to spend

Klopp adores Firmino – who cost the club a reported £29 million from Hoffenheim in 2015 () – and what he brings to the team, and it’s hard to see him shelling out on a new attacker.

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Not least because finances do appear to be quite tight given how the Thiago saga is panning out.

The German has always backed Firmino to the hilt in the face of criticism, so although the idea of a new attacker may be nice for some, it is probably unlikely to happen.

And so long as Mo Salah and Sadio Mane are among the goals, Firmino’s position as a regular starter is fairly safe.