Liverpool’s formidable front line played a crucial role in securing the club’s sixth European Cup and ending a 30-year wait for a league title. The renowned trio, consisting of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino, collectively scored 427 goals during their tenures at Anfield.
While Salah remains with the club, and is expected to continue adding to his impressive goal tally, their partnership with Mane and Firmino has already left an indelible mark on Liverpool’s history.
Daniel Sturridge departed the club in 2019, just as the “original” front three were hitting their stride, and he has disclosed how their exceptional “chemistry” made it exceedingly difficult to break their partnership. Sturridge stated, “This is probably the best trio in regards to the understanding of each other,” during an appearance on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
“You see Salah now still putting up the numbers, but I think they all had that camaraderie where they knew where each other would be, that chemistry was there.
“I was on the bench. Of course, I wanted to play, but I knew these guys had a vibe going. Sometimes with something special, you have to let it rock.”
During Sturridge’s final season at the club in 2018/19, Liverpool’s front three of Salah, Mane, and Firmino collectively scored an impressive total of 69 goals in all competitions. They followed this up with an additional 57 goals as Liverpool clinched the league title in the subsequent campaign.
Roberto Firmino quickly established himself as an indispensable component of Liverpool’s highly efficient team, which secured virtually every available trophy. As a result, Sturridge found himself limited to substitute appearances.
Sturridge emphasized that Firmino was ideally suited for the false nine role in Jurgen Klopp’s system, and his ability to contribute to counter-pressing made him a challenging player to displace. Firmino’s unique skill set made him a vital asset to Liverpool’s success during that period.
“The counter-press was what Jurgen wanted us to do,” he continued.
“I knew that, when it comes to counter-pressing, I was more of a dribbler and those types of things. Bobby was perfect for that role, I’m transparent in knowing that.”