For a 100th time, Bobby is not a 'striker' just because he plays through the middle. Salah is our striker, Mane is our Supporting Striker and Bobby is our Deep Lying Forward.
Did anyone really get bothered by Ronaldinho's or Bergkamp's scoring droughts? No. Precisely why nobody should for Bobby as well. In an ideal world.
Bobby clearly gets concerned by his scoring droughts and that is all that matters. From earlier in the season.
Bobby has four goals in three games and before that he didn’t score that often,” Klopp said following Liverpool’s 4-0 win at Leicester. “When people tell me previously Bobby didn’t score for a while I didn’t realise. When I think about Bobby I don’t think about scoring. I think about how important he is.
“We had a bit of a talk because for the first time since I knew him he looked a little bit concerned about that fact,” said Klopp of the player who joined Liverpool from Hoffenheim in June 2015.
“I told him I am not interested in that number because he is the connector for our team. He is so important for us. He is not the only one who can play that position but he can play that position in a very special way.”
Firmino acknowledged the impact of Klopp’s reassurance by running to embrace his manager on the sideline after his second goal against Leicester. “Obviously he doesn’t have to come [to hug me] every goal but this time he thought I was calm enough to leave him on the pitch in these games and he thought he has to say thank you.”
Scoring goals is a positive release of emotion for forwards and boosts their confidence which is highly likely to improve their general play. Bobby is a truly fantastic player but he wouldn't be human if goal droughts didn't have an effect on him.
I think at times when we play a functional three in midfield we ask a bit much of him. I think the form of Keita has helped share the creative responsibility around and allowed Bobby more opportunity to play higher up the pitch. His header the other night would be a good example of that.
Hopefully he scores again today and goes into the break on a high.