Pundit claims Klopp in crunch Firmino talks, with Liverpool Community Shield role a massive signal

Liverpool will be actively trying to tie Roberto Firmino down to a new contract and his Community Shield role may have been a clear signal, one pundit has said.

The Brazilian has played a vital role throughout manager Jurgen Klopp’s tenure but now his influence is under scrutiny. He has one year left on his contract and, unlike elsewhere in Liverpool’s front line, he has been largely out of the spotlight.

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Indeed, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota have signed new contracts, while Sadio Mane has left for Bayern Munich.

Luis Diaz is looking to kick on from his explosive first half-season at Liverpool, with Darwin Nunez an even more recent arrival from Benfica.

Firmino may therefore expect to have a bit-part role this season, although he started and played 58 minutes of Saturday’s Community Shield win over Manchester City.

And former West Ham star Frank McAvennie hopes that his inclusion from Klopp is a sign of his importance. McAvennie also predicted Firmino to be in fresh contract talks.

“I hope so because he’s a good player but I wouldn’t read too much into it,” McAvennie told Football Insider of Klopp’s selection of Firmino.

“I would think Man City and Liverpool still treated