The striker position is crucial for success at any football club, whether it be for facilitating attacks or putting in the goals themselves. Ever since Suarez left Liverpool, Liverpool’s strikers have not been good enough to take the club to the next level and truly be called world class. The current striking options are Sturridge, Ings, Firmino, Origi and Woodburn. To create a plan for Liverpool’s prosperity, the striking options ought to be assessed.
Daniel Sturridge
Sturridge is an excellent footballer. His amazing mixture of dribbling ability, positioning and finishing is so brilliant that there are few teams that would not take Sturridge as their primary attacking player. However, that excellent Sturridge is rarely seen, as he is injured so frequently. Sturridge himself is a player who possesses the capabilities to play for Liverpool, his efforts alone can make the difference between a Liverpool loss and a Liverpool victory. Overall, however, if Sturridge can not stay fit, he simply can not be the leading striker for Liverpool. The same goes for Ings, except Ings has not proved himself to be a top-class player to the calibre of Sturridge.
Roberto Firmino
Firmino is a crucial player for Liverpool. Firmino very frequently makes intelligent passes and runs all over the pitch, which really compliments Liverpool’s fast-paced attacking game. Firmino consistently features in the starting 11 and thus has been an integral part of Liverpool for a while now. I believe, however, that Firmino’s abilities qualifies him best as an attacking midfielder. Firmino does not have the ruthless finishing ability that Sturridge does, which is an essential trait for a striker.
Divock Origi
Origi has got what it takes to become a world class striker. His finishing is good, he’s good in the air, and he can distribute the ball nicely. Origi is still only 21- years-old so has plenty of time to continue learning the game. Origi currently has the characterstics of a striker who likes to slow the match down, contrary to how Liverpool are playing under Klopp, the likelihood being he would have to change his style of play. I do, however, think that there is still plenty of time for him to adapt to Klopp’s stlye and I expect him to one be an magnificent striker for Liverpool.
Ben Woodburn
Woodburn is a talented footballer. Whenever Woodburn touches the ball, there is always potential for magic to happen. At times his dribbling is so good, it reminds me of Coutinho’s. The fact that Woodburn is only 17 makes his current ability even more commendable. If he is developed in the right way and has the right mentality, he can surely go on to achieve great things for Liverpool.
With the likes of Firmino, Mané, Lallana, Wijnaldum, etc recently coming into Liverpool’s squad, the quality in the attacking midfield department is looking very good. Therefore, the focus of transfers can be switched to strikers, so I would expect Liverpool to sign a decent striker over the summer.
Feature image credit: anfieldjustice
