Front threes are in vogue, and not just because they lend themselves to pithy three-letter acronyms.
Liverpool have one of them right now: Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have been a hot trio, but after the sending off of the Senegalese attacker at Manchester City – and subsequent injury on international duty – Liverpool have clearly missed their first-choice front line.
One man who used to play in the attacking role for Liverpool is former striker Emile Heskey, who thinks that Daniel Sturridge needs to be given some game-time, even if some question whether or not Liverpool’s system is the perfect fit for the former England man.
“He needs more games and any player would say the same,” said Heskey.
“That’s when you get the best out of yourself and enjoy your football. He needs that right now but Liverpool are obviously not giving it to him so it’s a difficult time for him.
“With the system footballers are very adaptable so I don’t see why it should be a problem for him.”
That system, which has changed now from when Heskey was playing for Liverpool alongside the likes of Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler, may be different, but there are still some fundamental principles that hold true today: it’s the understanding and the team-play that make Liverpool’s first-choice front three so special – and underline why Daniel Sturridge needs game time if he’s to improve enough to fit into the team seamlessly.
“The thing is now you have a front three whereas you used to have two up front. But it’s not really a front three but more like a lone striker with two pacy wingers.
“So it’s difficult to compare because we used to have an understanding; we built up partnerships. We understood when to go short and the other would go long and you would dummy the ball and know the player was there. It’s different now.”
Another player who has played in that front three role – and whom the system doesn’t seem to favour in that position – is Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian star eyed up by Barcelona in the summer, but is now well and truly re-integrated into the Liverpool group, even if the team’s overall form has been poor. The question, though, is whether or not they can keep him for the rest of the season and beyond.
“When the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid – and even Liverpool themselves – are linked to players then players seriously think about it,” said Heskey.
“So I’m not surprised that Coutinho is considering it. He is close to some who play there and a number of Brazilians have represented them over the years so that’s where he’s thinking of plying his trade next.
“There is always that chance that he might go in January because if they come back with another offer his head will be turned again.”
Read the full 888sport interview with Emile Heskey, including his thoughts on Coutinho’s Barcelona transfer saga.
