Jermaine Jenas tells Jurgen Klopp to consider replacement for struggling Roberto Firmino

Jermaine Jenas questioned Liverpool’s forward line after Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle (Picture: BT Sport)

Jermaine Jenas has encouraged Jurgen Klopp to find a replacement for Roberto Firmino in the summer transfer window after the Liverpool striker’s goal drought continued against Newcastle on Saturday.

The reigning champions controlled the game against Steve Bruce’s side almost from start to finish at Anfield, but had only Mohamed Salah’s third minute goal to show for their dominance.

Liverpool managed 20 attempts on goal but were made to pay for their profligacy when Joe Willock pounced deep into stoppage time to score an equaliser that all but guaranteed Newcastle their top flight status for another season.

It was a hugely frustrating afternoon for Klopp, who saw his side fail to make up ground in the race for a top four spot. Sadio Mane missed several presentable chances, as did Diogo Jota before he was hauled off shortly before the hour mark.

Firmino, meanwhile, fired blanks again meaning the 29-year-old has now gone 14 matches since his last goal against Tottenham way back on January 28.

Joe Willock scored Newcastle’s late equaliser against Liverpool (Picture: Getty)

Since the turn of the year Liverpool have managed a combined total of 146 shots on goal, scoring only four times in the Premier League, representing a conversion rate of just 2.6%.

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Reflecting on those numbers, Jenas said: ‘If we got to isolated numbers, Mane hasn’t been a player at this club for probably the last six months that he has been.

‘And Firmino playing a No.9 for Liverpool, those are not striker’s numbers and it’s an area of the pitch they need to have a proper good look at if they want to get back to where they were.

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‘It’s their season in a nutshell. In a 90 minute period that’s their season right there.I actually thought for a period of time Fabinho and Kabak did alright at the back.

‘Yes they had a couple of breakaway chances Newcastle, but we played in so many games where, even in training at times, when teams keep missing chances there’s just this innate feeling that we are going to get a goal here.

‘Their whole season has been like that for Liverpool their whole forward line just hasn’t fired the way it needs to to have another title challenge and that’s why they are sat where they are.’

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