‘Finally’. May the gravity behind this word be understood by all who have been following Liverpool’s recent transfer windows, transfer misses, and transfer rumours which end up giving Liverpool the unique tag of missing out on a player after already having signed him. ‘Finally’, because not only is Firmino a welcome breath of genuine skill, but he also seems to seamlessly fit in Rodger’s preferred 4-4-2 (4-2-2-2 interchanging with Diamond) as we shall see.

As is usually the case, Liverpool end up buying a player in a position least required by the team. And a look at Firmino’s paper position of ‘Attacking Midfielder’, one might think the same. On field, however, Firmino offers most qualities that would help Liverpool fill in the support striker role up top with Sturridge, that was so dearly missed last season (partly because of the lack of a support striker, and partly because of the lack of a striker itself). Stats mean little when we account for players transferring to faster and stronger leagues. But a return of 44 goals and assists in the Bundesliga over the past two seasons, only behind Lewandowski’s 48 and Muller’s 46, all being part of a team that scores roughly half as many goals certainly can’t be discarded.

First XI. 4-2-2-2.

An overview on what should be our First XI. A narrow formation with one CDM (if we manage to buy someone of, say, Khedira’s ilk, or else Can or Lucas). Personally, I wouldn’t want Can to bomb forward the way he did even from CB. His most natural position remains the one in which Hendo plays. So that may leave us with the on-and-off-dependable Lucas. Hendo would play the usual runner and choke opponents by running at them while his midfield partner would choke their spaces by moving into them. Two Attacking Mids (AMs) in Coutinho and Lallana (or Kovacic, if we manage to sign him before another 500 transfer articles are written), the primary pressers defensively and otherwise providers to our two strikers. An important role would be played by our two full backs, who would have to actively support the attacks to provide options on the wing in the final third. Mind, I’ve kept both positions open for new buys since no one in our current team can play such a role. Moreno is too weak defensively, while Ibe, our only RB option, is naturally a forward winger. Another option is to slide into a wide 4-2-3-1 as shown below, albeit with one of the AMs pushed to a wing thus needing support from the full back anyway.

Coming back to Firmino, I had a friend telling me he’s too similar to Coutinho. But from what I’ve seen, he isn’t as clever at dribbling, nor at passing. Where he excels though, is at being a confident finisher, having an eye for goal and also with the ability to head the ball. He drops back often (way too often), which serves well for Liverpool’s pressing tactics and counter-attacks (Stat – Firmino made 175 tackles last season, 6th highest in the Bundesliga while most above him on the list occupy defensive positions). This constant movement, if coordinated well with the other striker, also helps in shifting to a 4-2-3-1 as shown below, that Liverpool implemented wonderfully in the 13-14 season.

Strikers dropping to wings to form 4-2-3-1

Slight shuffling in the midfield effectively forms the Diamond. Thus, this ticks all formations Rodgers likes his team to be in. More importantly, it accommodates a player who can bring these dynamic changes into effect, something that wasn’t possible either due to lack of effort or intelligence or both with Balotelli, Lambert and Borini (respectively?).

Midfield Diamond

To analyse how Firmino can possibly bring about these effects, we have a look at his performance against Venezuela in the ongoing Copa America.

Up front in 4-2-3-1

In the 17th minute, Firmino is up ahead all on his own with the ball but prefers to give the ball to Willian and move wide.

Out wide

He moves wide thus giving options for others players to move inside the box. This would complement both Sturridge’s and other AM’s movements as well as naturally propel the team’s shift to a wide 4-2-3-1. In the above case, he ends up mis-hitting the pass on the closest defender’s legs.

Dropping Back

Fermino regularly drops back to initiate plays and as has already been mentioned, to break attacks of the opposition with great success. In the latter image above, he is the fifth player from the opposition goal. Both Sturridge and Suarez receded similarly to deeper positions during the 13-14 season. In the first case above, he ends up slightly overhitting the pass for a throw in.

Far far back

This time he is even further back but expectedly in a more open situation. He either doesn’t see the vast open space for the through ball at all, or isn’t confident enough yet for Coutinho-esque lobbed outers, so he goes for a quick one-two around the presser and shows quick feet to dribble ahead before being fouled.

Going for the one-two rather than the through pass

Second half – out wide on the left

Moving to the second half, we see how he drops back to the other wing on the left (as was also the case in a few first half breaks) and shows decent awareness in playing the ball to the centre rather than to Filipe Luis at LB who is being pressed. There’s been a lack of such awareness at Liverpool, as I have noticed countless times particularly over the past 5 seasons, which not only robs AMs like Coutinho a free run into space that they strive in, but also puts pressure on Wing backs who more often than not end up giving away the ball for a throw in or scuffling it all the way back to the CB.

Movement for the goal

Now, for the goal he scored, which according to me is what makes him more than just an ordinary signing from Liverpool’s striking woes’ perspective. Firmino notices Willian’s run on the left wing and immediately runs into the box. He stops his run as soon as the defender moves past him and changes his direction towards Willian’s far post.

Goal

All Firmino is left with is a neat side foot half volley to put the ball in the back of the net. Not a spectacular goal by any means, but one that is clever, that oozes a striker’s instinct and clinicality, traits Liverpool missed the most in the absence of Sturridge last season.

That’s not to say Liverpool won’t suffer early on with Sturridge missing up till September-October. Firmino will still take time to settle in the league, like most players do, even if he hits it off instantly with Liverpool. Moreover, he wouldn’t want to be left all alone up front, with Rodgers pumping AMs in a static 4-2-3-1, like Liverpool played for most of last season’s second half with Sterling as the false-9 instead of the more clinical and close controlled Lallana. New players prefer to get on the ball more, with already established players doing rest of whatever is needed to win the game.

The only possible solution seems to keep the same system, and play Ings or Lallana in place of Sturridge (Ibe/Markovic fill in for Lallana’s AM position). I would personally go with Lallana up top, who would provide a more similar link up to Firmino to what Sturridge will provide.

With Firmino’s addition, Liverpool can finally have the second striker position refilled that had been emptied since Suarez’s departure, even if with a player who can’t impact half as much. His signing is not that of a Pogba or an Isco. It is of a potential talent who wonderfully fits our style of play. He will get Rodgers’ system running and that is all I ever expect from any of our transfers.