Firmino struggling on international duty points to wider issue Klopp must address

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If Jurgen Klopp had been told before the season began that his side would be bang in the title race coming out of the final international break of 2018, he would have been forgiven for think it was because his Red Arrows attack was once more playing out of its skin.

For all the improvements the German has made to the Reds’ defence, he would still expect his frontline to be the driving force behind an assault on Manchester City’s crown, but that hasn’t been the case.

Mo Salah’s spluttering form has attracted much of the attention because the Egyptian king was so mercurial last season.

But while the former Roma man has picked up in recent weeks, Roberto Firmino has continued to struggle; and that rut has extended itself to international duty as he failed to impress in Brazil’s 1-0 win over Cameroon yesterday.

That points to a wider issue, most likely with fitness or confidence, that Klopp must resolve if he is to get his number one striker back on track.

Dominic Solanke was able to put his club exile behind him and score four goals during the international break, but Firmino’s malaise carried over.

That’s a worry for Klopp, because without Firmino on top of his game, Liverpool’s pressing approach lacks its leader.