Roberto Firmino has Liverpool advantage but mystery remains unsolved

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The beaming smile, the spring in the step and the thumbs up: The Roberto Firmino hallmarks were all there as he returned to training on Tuesday.

The striker got back to work at Liverpool's AXA Training Centre as day two of the pre-season schedule involved a move out onto the pitches for Jurgen Klopp's players.

But for arguably the first time since Firmino joined seven summers ago, the Brazil international was not in possession of something else that has largely been taken for granted since he moved from Hoffenheim in 2015. Namely, his place in the starting XI.

Twelve months ago, the idea of Liverpool's forward trio of Mohamed Salah, Firmino and Sadio Mane being broken up was deemed unthinkable.

Even allowing for the impressive first season on Merseyside for Diogo Jota, the thought of Firmino not leading the line as the first choice centre forward in between the flyers of Mane and Salah seemed hard to realistically believe.

After all, Firmino has always been the perfect foil for the two players who have scored 276 goals between them during their time on