When Jurgen Klopp arrived on Merseyside in October 2015, he found a Brazilian no.10 who had a unique skill set. In Roberto Firmino, Liverpool had a player who was complete enough to lead their line for the next five years.
The German coach gave him the no.9 shirt before too long. He converted him into a striker of sorts at Anfield, but one who wouldn't forget his past as an attacking midfielder in the Bundesliga.
Firmino operated as Liverpool's central man under Klopp, showcasing a tendency to retreat into deeper areas to assume possession despite traditional expectations surrounding what his role should incorporate. He interpreted the position according to his own profile, with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah benefiting from his presence out wide.
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Throughout his time as a starter, the South American touched the ball more often than virtually all of his peers in the striker department. In 2019/20, when Liverpool won the Premier League, Firmino averaged more touches on a per-90 basis than any other striker in England.
Players who finish chances and occupy the penalty box simply don't tend to touch the ball very often unless they are attempting to score. Firmino broke the mould by helping his teammates construct moves just as much as he tried to finish them.
His profile is very different to that of Darwin Nunez, who seems to be on the verge of joining Liverpool from Benfica this summer.
The Uruguayan striker is more in the mould of an orthodox marksman than Firmino. He stands 6-foot-2 and scored 32 goals in all competitions this season, while registering just four assists.
Crucially, Nunez doesn't tend to touch the ball even half as much. In the Portuguese Primeira Liga this season, he averaged roughly 19 passes per 90 despite playing for a fairly dominant side, compared to Firmino who posted an average of 40 passes per 90 in the Premier League.
Although Nunez isn't necessarily being signed to make passes, the difference between him and Firmino captures the tactical shift that Liverpool seem to be enforcing.
Klopp's men will be going from playing with a focal point who is wedded to possession, to a focal point who is goal-oriented. The Reds could benefit from having a natural striker up front, but they might have to become accustomed to building moves with one less player.
Curiously, the same dynamic applies to Manchester City. Pep Guardiola has adopted his own strikerless system at the Etihad since Sergio Aguero's departure, but things are about to change.
Erling Haaland will lead the line for the Premier League holders next season. Unlike Guardiola's team of technicians, Haaland - much like Nunez - dedicates most of his energy towards making the difference in the penalty area as opposed to drifting into more withdrawn areas.
This summer, it seems Klopp and Guardiola will be presented with a similar puzzle to solve. If Nunez signs, the pair will each be tasked with integrating a new type of player to spearhead their attacks.
Overall, the coach who is the most successful could end up delivering the most silverware next term.
