How Arne Slot's Liverpool front three compare to iconic trio of Salah, Firmino & Mane?

Cody Gakpo and Luiz Diaz have formed an impressive partnership with Salah in the attack.

Mohamed Salah was the last component of an attacking triumvirate that rivalled anybody in Europe when Jurgen Klopp assembled them in this legendary Liverpool club.

Liverpool won all of the main awards because of Salah’s flurry of goals on the right, Roberto Firmino of Brazil’s deft touches and brilliant moments through the centre and beyond, and Sadio Mane’s unselfish talent and threat from the left.

With a nod to the silver-lined past, the trio gave the Reds their versatile, unstoppable attack. Now, manager Arne Slot’s Liverpool engine has a new, three-dimensional assault.

Salah remains the main attraction even though the other two no longer play with him at Anfield. Liverpool are sweeping the Premier League, where they lead by eight points heading into 2025, and the Champions League, where they are also leading the standings in the new league phase structure this season.

Whose front three has been better Jurgen Klopp’s or Arne Slot’s?

Since Firmino and Mane are now playing elsewhere, Slot has paired Salah with two strong comrades that Klopp gave him, and they are making this season seem more and more like the return of the Premier League championship to Anfield.

In the crushing victory at London Stadium, all three of the above netted. They were set up for success by Luis Diaz, who scored twice in the 6-3 victory at Tottenham seven days before this West Ham thrashing.

Slot’s Colombian, who was signed and used as a wide player upon his arrival from Porto in January 2022, is now effectively working the central areas, albeit without Firmino’s grace. This is especially true since his finishing has improved.

Klopp’s front three vs Slot’s

Klopp’s Liverpool front three in 2019-20

Players	Goals	Assists	Mins per goal	Shot conversion	Big chance conversion
Mohamed Salah	19	10	151.8	14.4%	50.0%
Sadio Mane	18	7	152.9	23.4%	37.9%
Roberto Firmino	9	8	333.4	9.1%	23.1%

Klopp’s starting lineup seldom changed during Liverpool’s 2019–20 Premier League victory. Firmino participated in all 38 games, Mane made 35, and Salah made 34.

The data, however, indicates that they were not quite as powerful as the current forward line. Gakpo, Diaz, and Salah have already scored 30 goals between them after 18 games, whereas the title-winning front three had scored 46 after the full season.

They also have better shooting and a big chance of succeeding on average.

Slot’s Liverpool front three in 2024-25

Players	Goals	Assists	Mins per goal	Shot conversion	Big chance conversion
Mohamed Salah	17	13	93.3	24.3%	48.2%
Cody Gakpo	5	2	180.6	16.7%	60.0%
Luis Diaz	8	2	132.4	22.2%	58.3%

Which front three has been better?

Although it is too soon to compare the current three to Salah, Firmino, and Mane, there is no denying the incredible impact they have had on Liverpool’s brilliant debut campaign under Slot, as they lead the Premier League with only one loss in 18 games.

Firmino and Mane earned the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup together with Salah.

This is the standard that the new breed must meet. Anyhow Salah, Diaz, and Gakpo now provide an exciting threat of their own, unless you are against them.

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