Liverpool forward Mo Salah has staunchly defended Roberto Firmino following recent question marks over the Brazilian international’s form.

The 29-year-old did not start the 5-0 win over Atalanta on Tuesday night, with his replacement Diogo Jota coming into the side and scoring a hat-trick. Many supporters now want the Portuguese forward to be given his chance ahead of Firmino but Salah was quick to remind people about the Brazilian’s value to the team:

“I am not the coach, I can’t decide something like that. I can’t look at what Firmino has done for the club and what he gives the team and say he should sit on the bench because his recent scoring output isn’t amazing, this is a player who has given everything to the team for five years and creates so many chances.”

“The way our system works in a way sacrifices his scoring output slightly as he drops deeper and gives us the ball on the wings, so I can’t say he should sit on the bench or that he isn’t working to the best of his ability. Sure, there can be more goals, but he creates so many chances regardless.”

It’s going to be a tricky selection decision for manager Jurgen Klopp. Jota has certainly staked his claim for a starting spot but Firmino’s big-game experience may give him the edge against City, despite clearly being out of form.

It is a great problem to have, though, as whoever starts, you would back them to have a big impact on the game. Jota’s speed and link-up play with Salah and Sadio Mane is certainly a massive plus, but Firmino’s ability to come deep and find pockets of space could also come in useful against a City backline which has not always been reliable.