Liverpool’s search for a direct replacement for Roberto Firmino has been an ongoing challenge for the club. Despite several attempts to fill the void left by the Brazilian forward, Liverpool have struggled to find a player who can replicate Firmino’s unique skill set, particularly his role as a false nine. Ian Graham, the club’s former director of research, recently reflected on the difficulties the club faced in trying to replace the beloved forward, emphasizing that finding another Firmino-type player was like a “never-ending quest.”
Firmino: The Heart of Liverpool’s Attack
Roberto Firmino was an integral part of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool side, serving as the fulcrum of the team’s attack for many years. His role as a false nine—a forward who drops deep to link up play and create space for wingers—became synonymous with Liverpool’s pressing style and high-octane offense. Firmino’s ability to contribute both defensively and offensively made him a rare talent, and his absence has left a noticeable gap in Liverpool’s attacking setup.
According to Ian Graham, Firmino’s impact on Liverpool’s system was undeniable. “The problem of having Firmino in your team is that he played that false-nine role and was really fitted to it,” Graham explained. “His movement, intelligence, and ability to press from the front made him irreplaceable in many ways.”
Firmino’s role in Liverpool’s triumphant campaigns, including their Champions League win in 2019 and Premier League title in 2020, was central to the team’s success. His unselfish play and ability to bring out the best in fellow forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané made him indispensable. Yet, as Firmino’s influence began to wane with age and injury, Liverpool knew they had to begin planning for life after him.
Failed Attempt at Minamino Replacement
One of Liverpool’s early attempts to replace Firmino came with the signing of Takumi Minamino from Red Bull Salzburg in 2020. Minamino, who had impressed against Liverpool in the Champions League group stages, was seen as a potential heir to Firmino’s false-nine role. Graham acknowledged that the club had high hopes for Minamino due to his similar profile to Firmino.
“We liked Takumi Minamino because he profiled in a very similar way, “His intelligence, movement, and work rate were qualities that we thought could make him a Firmino-like player.” Graham said.
However, despite the initial optimism, Minamino never quite managed to establish himself as a regular starter at Liverpool. His versatility allowed him to play across the front three, but he struggled to replicate Firmino’s influence in the false-nine position. Graham admitted that while Minamino was talented, the challenge of directly replacing Firmino proved too great.
The Ongoing Search for a False Nine
Liverpool’s search for a Firmino replacement did not end with Minamino’s departure. Over the past few seasons, the club has signed several forwards, including Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez, both of whom have brought their own qualities to the team. However, neither player has fully assumed Firmino’s false-nine role, as both prefer to play in different attacking positions.
Jota, for example, has thrived as a goal-scoring forward but lacks Firmino’s playmaking ability and defensive work rate. Núñez, on the other hand, is more of a traditional number nine, with his game centered around speed and finishing, rather than dropping deep to create for others.
For Graham and the Liverpool recruitment team, the challenge of finding a Firmino-type player became an ongoing dilemma. “It was like a never-ending quest for us at the Reds,” Graham admitted. “We kept trying to find someone who could do what Firmino did, but it’s not easy.”
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