Liverpool already have the long-term successor to Roberto Firmino in ‘outstanding’ youth star

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Arne Slot has a player who is playing exactly like Roberto Firmino already at Liverpool’s academy.

The Brazilian ended his eight-year spell at Anfield when he departed the Reds at the end of his contract upon the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign.

Firmino arrived in a £29 million deal from Hoffenheim in 2015, originally as an attacking midfielder, but he would go on to become the main focal point of Jurgen Klopp’s attack.

He is still fondly remembered on Merseyside, and Firmino has been called better than Mohamed Salah, as he is regarded to this day as the perfect modern false nine.

Although comparisons between summer signing Hugo Ekitike and Firmino have arisen this season, there is a player making waves at the AXA Training Centre who could very well replicate the Brazilian’s role in the future.

Josh Sonni-Lambie is the new Roberto Firmino at Liverpool

The name Josh Sonni-Lambie will be unknown to most Liverpool supporters, but the youth forward has been in scintillating form in Kirkby.

As Liverpool lost 1-0 against Galatasaray on Tuesday, the 17-year-old single-handedly dispatched the Super Lig giant’s youth side in the UEFA Youth League.

Sonni-Lambie assisted Kareem Ahmed for the opener before doubling the advantage himself in a 2-0 win in Istanbul.

The England Under-18 international now boasts five goals and two assists in seven outings across all competitions for Simon Wiles’ side and was described by Liverpool academy expert Lewis Bower as a “modern false nine”.

Arne Slot has proven he is willing to offer a clear pathway to the first team for the academy stars – the boss promoted Trey Nyoni and Rio Nguomha to the senior squad this summer.

Ngumoha became the fourth youngest goalscorer in Premier League history this season, with his match-winning goal in the 3-2 victory against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

And with Hugo Ekitike sustaining an injury at RAMS Park on Tuesday, that could leave only Alexander Isak to lead the line for the senior squad, and Sonni-Lambie could be a name for the supporters to watch out for this season.

Josh Sonni-Lambie has already stolen headlines this year

Sonni-Lambie scored only one goal for the Under-18s last season but it was pretty special to say the least.

Wiles oversaw a rampant 5-1 victory against Stoke City towards the back end of the campaign wherein Sonni-Lambie scored a Xabi Alonso-esque half-way line goal that blew away his manager.

That’s outstanding. It’s an absolutely outstanding finish,” Wiles said in his post-match interview. “I think it’s at a really, really important time because Stoke came out in the second half and they started putting us under a lot of pressure, and we were trying to find a way to keep playing.

“Just that moment of quality, it settles everything, and then we started getting a little bit more of the ball, and we start playing again. They’re really key moments in terms of momentum. But to have the ability to do that and deliver was absolutely outstanding, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for us in terms of where the game was at.”