I’ve seen many fans make dream starting lineups for next season. So many fans have different thoughts on how Liverpool will line up next season but I noticed one thing that was pretty consistent throughout most of the teams made; Roberto Firmino was not included.

Players like Kylian Mbappé, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have all been included in these lineups because they are all “25 goal strikers and Firmino isn’t clinical enough.”

Although any of those signings would be amazing, they aren’t essential. Liverpool should look to sign players in other positions before a striker, like a centre back and a centre midfielder. Plus the Reds already have a good enough striker, Firmino.

Many fans have taken for granted what Firmino offers to the team. Yes, he doesn’t score as much as the strikers previously mentioned, but they can’t do for this Liverpool team what Firmino does.

The way Firmino presses and makes space for other players is key to Jürgen Klopp’s style of play. Firmino tops the charts in sprints, chances created, distance covered, passes and tackles out all strikers who have made 15 plus appearances in Europe.

Comparing Firmino to the previously mentioned Mbappé, Aubameyang and Lacazette last season, he won 1.21 tackles per 90 mins, the next best was Lacazette with 0.87. He made 0.65 interceptions per 90 mins compared to the next best, Aubameyang, with 0.39. He created 2.23 chances per 90 mins with Mbappé closest creating 1.84. And finally, Firmino passed the ball 45.32 times per 90 mins compared to next best Lacazette with 31.18.

He is the perfect all-rounder to lead Klopp’s team. He’s the first line of defence with his pressing and he drops back vacating space for the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mané to flourish

Coutinho and Mané both scored 13 league goals this season and Firmino’s play is one of the reasons for their high tally. He drops deep, dragging defenders with him leaving space open where those defenders would have been allowing Coutinho and Mané to attack that space. Not many strikers can do what Firmino can.

Yes he many not score as much as an out-in-out striker, but that’s the thing, he isn’t one, he is a ‘false 9’. We should not be judging Firmino on how many goals he scores. That isn’t his main job in the team.

Saying that, scoring 11 in the league is hardly poor considering how because of him the goals are spread around the team. Liverpool scored 78 goals last season, so scoring clearly isn’t an issue, but Liverpool would have significantly less if it wasn’t for the work that Firmino does.

If you need any proof of this, Liverpool’s slump in January where goals dried out was around the time when Firmino had to play out wide due to injuries in the squad. Firmino’s main strengths were stifled and because of this Liverpool struggled to score.

Firmino’s overall contribution to the team is so important, Liverpool’s system hinders on him. He is more important than any 25 goal striker would ever be. He is perfect for Liverpool and because of this Firmino should be Liverpool’s main striker next season.