In the meantime, Mane was pushed into the central position and stayed there for the remainder of the campaign, before his subsequent departure 12 months ago invited new signing Darwin Nunez to lead the line during the first half of last season with Jota and later Firmino injured. The need to fill the gaps left by the absences of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to Africa Cup of Nations duty in the New Year saw the Portuguese move to the flanks until an untimely injury threatened his League Cup final participation. With Firmino crocked early on in the 2021/22 campaign, Diogo Jota was the first player to lay down a marker and remained the regular spearhead of the attack even when the Brazilian regained fitness. In truth, Firmino hadn't been a regular for the final two years of his time at the club, starting only twice in the Premier League since November last season and managing only 10 over the entirety of the previous campaign.Īnd the audition over who can best fill the boots of the departed Brazilian has actually been ongoing for almost two years. READ MORE: Jordan Henderson transfer latest as Saudi Arabia interest grows in Liverpool captain READ MORE: Liverpool centre-back priority set to change as ideal transfer target clear The number nine jersey has long acquired special meaning at Anfield, having been worn by the likes of Ian St John, Steve Heighway, David Johnson and Ian Rush, all the way through to Premier League favourites Robbie Fowler, Fernando Torres and, for the last six years, Roberto Firmino. And it's perhaps symbolic the position remains empty given the battle that will shortly ensue within Jurgen Klopp's squad.
However, another Liverpool shirt number with similar weighty significance remains unassigned. New signings Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have taken the number eight and 10 jerseys respectively, while Luis Diaz has switched from 23 to seven. A quick glance at the Liverpool squad for the forthcoming season swiftly reveals a notable absence.
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