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Jamie Carragher has claimed that Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino needs to step his game up, especially as he’s now got teammate Diogo Jota breathing down his neck.

Firmino, who cost the Reds £29million (BBC) five years ago, has been such a pivotal figure at Anfield during Jurgen Klopp’s reign on Merseyside and been at the heart of a world-class attacking trio.

The Brazilian striker has played in the central position for Liverpool in recent seasons, with speedsters Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah operating either side of him.

Despite not being able to keep up in the goalscoring charts with Mane and Salah, he’s still been a key creator and contributor to his side, as well as working so hard off the ball to press from the front.

Carragher has been discussing the 29-year-old ahead of Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Manchester City and feels he’s still the first-choice forward, but has urged him to improve to get back to his best level.

The South American has just one goal in 11 appearances so far this season in all competitions, while Liverpool’s new attacking option Jota is applying the pressure on him by scoring seven in 10 games.

“Firmino needs to step it up. In the seven league games so far, the concern for him and his manager is he is currently well short of his previous possession-winning numbers. He has only won the ball twice in the final third this season,” Carragher wrote in the Telegraph.

“That is mainly because of Firmino’s problems against teams who play long from the back. Aston Villa, Sheffield United and West Ham bypassed Liverpool’s high press, thus negating Firmino’s impact. That is when he needs to find alternative ways to greatly influence a game. In those circumstances, the onus is on him to be more productive with the ball, assisting or scoring. His statistics currently compare unfavourably, not only to Jota, but his own previous records. Firmino’s chance-creation rate per game this season is the lowest of his Anfield career.

“For now, Firmino remains the go-to No 9 for Klopp. He will be under no illusions of the pressure on him to get back to his best, though.”

TBR’s View:

Liverpool’s front trio has been unbreakable in recent seasons and arguably the most dangerous frontline in Europe, but that’s now being disrupted and it can only be a good thing having some genuine competition for places.

Jota has seized every chance in a Liverpool shirt so far and scored a Champions League hat-trick in midweek against Atalanta, which is why eyes are on Klopp to see his team selection at the Etihad Stadium.

23-year-old Jota may be the long-term plan for the Reds in attack, but it would be foolish to rite off Firmino considering how crucial he’s been in their recent success and he’s now got a real point to prove.