Liverpool Have Been Told Their 'Perfect' Striker Currently Plays In The Premier League

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler believes Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins would be the 'perfect' striker for Jurgen Klopp's side.

The Reds finished third in the Premier League last season, with Roberto Firmino regularly leading the line.

But Firmino only scored nine league goals and Fowler believes Watkins offers the same level of work rate, as well as a greater presence up top.

He told The Athletic per the Liverpool Echo: "I like Ollie Watkins at Villa.

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"When you start delving into how Liverpool play and how they press, his stats are perfect.

"He scores goals and his work rate is spot on. He looks like a Klopp player to me.

"Of course Villa wouldn't want to lose him and he wouldn't come cheap but he's done very well since arriving from Brentford.

"A lot of big clubs didn't take a chance on him but he's made that leap from the Championship to the Premier League and has proved he belongs there."

Watkins arrived from Brentford in a deal worth £28 million last summer and netted 14 times in his debut campaign at Villa Park.

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The 25-year-old netted a hat-trick against Liverpool in a shock 7-2 win and also scored on his England debut against San Marino in March.

Watkins was named in the Three Lions' provisional squad for Euro 2020 but didn't make the final cut.

Liverpool have already been active in the summer transfer window, with Ibrahima Konate arriving from RB Leipzig.

Long-term injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez derailed Liverpool's title defence and Klopp is adamant it won't happen again.

He said: "I'm really pleased we've been able to add a player of Ibrahima's quality to our squad and he is someone I've admired for a long time, ever since I first became aware of his potential when he was at Sochaux.

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"After the problems we had with injuries in the centre-half position last season, there's no doubt it was clear it was an area of the team we needed to strengthen - but I first have to say that the job Nat [Phillips], Rhys [Williams] and Ozan [Kabak] did was incredible. Unbelievable really.

"In Ibrahima we are signing a player who will add to the quality we already have here. His physical attributes are very impressive; he is quick, he is very strong and he is dominant in the air."

Topics: Liverpool, Aston Villa, Ollie Watkins, Football

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a journalist for SPORTbible and he has previous experience with Manchester United. He has spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, WWE COO Triple H and WWE legend The Undertaker. May or may not do a decent impression of Jamie Carragher.

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