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How Brazil ace Roberto Firmino will fit in at Anfield (alongside Sturridge and Coutinho)
THE question of where Roberto Firmino will fit in at Anfield - or, more pertinently, who will make way for the Brazilian - can be resolved another day.
Roberto Firmino - Spotlight on
Why Liverpool are prepared to spend up to almost £30m on the 1899 Hoffenheim attacker is far easier to answer.
In the past two seasons in the Bundesliga only Robert Lewandowski with 48 goals and assists and Thomas Muller with 46 have contributed more than Firmino, who has either scored, or provided the telling pass, for 44 strikes.
Now, consider that Liverpool have scored 153 league goals in the last two seasons.
Of that haul, 94 have been plundered by Luis Suarez (31), Raheem Sterling (16), Steven Gerrard (22) and Daniel Sturridge (25).
Suarez is long gone and, as it stands, the only player guaranteed to be at Anfield on the opening day of the season will be Sturridge and he will not be fit following hip surgery. In addition, that same quartet also conjured 46 assists.
Roberto Firmino could line up with Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho in a front three next year
Liverpool's lack of attacking threat was all too clear last season as their fortunes flat-lined and the priority for manager Brendan Rodgers remains an out and out striker, with Christian Benteke still top of the wanted list despite a £32.5m buy-out clause.
But goals are also required from elsewhere in the starting XI and while Firmino may seem to be similar to his compatriot Philippe Coutinho, and also Adam Lallana, in favouring a No10 role but able to play elsewhere, his ability to affect games would be a boon to a team that begins the campaign under pressure.
For context, Coutinho has 22 goals and assists in the last two seasons at Liverpool and, in his sole year at Anfield, Lallana boasts eight.
Rodgers is likely to revert to a back four next season and play 4-3-3 with the option of deploying a midfield diamond if he manages to recruit another top class attacker. His first choice midfield seems set to be Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and James Milner.
A front three of Coutinho-Sturridge-Firmino would be a possible permutation, although one which may not leave Lallana enthused let alone Danny Ings, Jordon Ibe or Lazar Markovic.
If Firmino signs and is to perform in an attacking triumvirate, then a willingness to work hard is essential and, here, more number crunching throws up some interesting answers.
As well as scoring goals and conjuring assists, Firmino made 175 tackles in a Hoffenheim shirt over the last two seasons, a tally bettered by only five players in the whole of the German top flight.
He does not need comparisons with Alexis Sanchez, last summer's Holy Grail, but clearly Liverpool hope he can be something similar.
This may all seem too stat-orientated - marking Firmino potentially out as a 'typical' Fenway Sports Group signing, especially at the age of 23.
But then it is worth noting that of the 25 players Bob Paisley signed during his nine years in charge only two were over the age of 25.
One was goalkeeper Bob Wardle (aged 27) and the other? Kenny Dalglish at 26.
Too much emphasis is placed on the machinations of Liverpool's transfer group because too often the end product has been utterly underwhelming.
Yet the deal for Firmino would begin to address some long-standing questions and concerns about Liverpool's owners.
Getting the transfer over the line has been no mean feat given there is an element of third-party ownership and chief executive Ian Ayre has moved quickly by flying to Chile, where Firmino is playing in the Copa America, to ensure there are no last minute hitches.
At the same time it would indicate FSG's willingness to spend money although the millions already lavished should not leave them open to scrutiny on that.
Sterling may well leave and pay for Firmino and a bit more besides, but at this point Manchester City could also walk away.
The deal would also demonstrate a willingness to back Rodgers, who is in the process of freshening up his backroom staff after surviving his end of season review following last season's travails.
The one question that remains outstanding is whether Firmino can succeed in the cut and thrust of the Premier League and translate the figures that look so impressive in Germany in English football.
Liverpool, cock-a-hoop at pulling off what they believe to be a transfer coup, will be happy trying to find out.
Full list of Paisley's signings with ages when signed:
Peter McDonnell 21
Phil Neal 23
Terry McDermott 22
Joey Jones 20
David Johnson 24
Alan Hansen 22
Kenny Dalglish 26
Steve Ogrizovic 20
Graeme Souness 24
Kevin Sheedy 18
Alan Kennedy 23
Frank McGarvey 23
Avi Cohen 22
Ronnie Whelan 17
Richard Money 24
Ian Rush 18
Bruce Grobbelaar 23
Craig Johnston 20
Mark Lawrenson 24
Steve Nicol 19
John McGregor 19
Bob Wardle 27
David Hodgson 22
David West 18
Jim Beglin 19
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