Michael Owen says Klopp MUST start Liverpool 31-year-old against Man City - he could make all the difference
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Michael Owen has named the player that he believes Jurgen Klopp must start against Man City after Liverpool's 7-1 victory over Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Reds produced a superb, morale-boosting second half display at Ibrox, after initially going 1-0 down on 17 minutes through Scott Arfield.
Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick, with Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott also opening their Champions League goal accounts for Liverpool.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side simply could not deal with the Reds in the second half, who now need just one point from their remaining two group stage games to qualify for the knockouts.
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For Rangers, they now must defeat Ajax on the final day of the group stage, and rely on results elsewhere, to have any chance of securing third place. That would qualify them for the Europa League knockouts, a tournament they reached the final in last season.
After the game, the majority of the attention was placed on Salah. The Egyptian netted a five-minute hat-trick - the fastest ever recorded in Champions League competition - to put the game beyond doubt. Klopp described the 30-year-old's goals as "special" after the match.
But there was one other star who played a huge role in Liverpool's emphatic comeback from 1-0 down, and Michael Owen, who covered the game for BT Sport, believes he has to start when the Reds take on Man City in the Premier League on Sunday.
Michael Owen says Roberto Firmino has to start for Liverpool
Speaking after the game, the former Liverpool forward said that Klopp needs to start Roberto Firmino for the City clash.
Firmino was impressive again in the Reds' victory over Rangers, scoring twice and setting up Darwin Nunez for their third goal with a superb pass.
The Brazilian now has eight goals and four assists in 12 games in all competitions this season, and is Liverpool's top goalscorer. But he has not been a guaranteed starter this term - something Owen thinks has to change.
He told BT Sport (quotes via Daily Mail): "The biggest game in the Premier League is this weekend. I can't imagine he's not playing. He's already had such a good season, recent form, I don't think Jurgen Klopp can leave him out."
If he starts on Sunday, Firmino will hope to push Liverpool towards a vital victory to push them back towards the European places. They are currently 10th in the Premier League table.
Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Jurgen Klopp, Michael Owen, Liverpool, Roberto Firmino, Manchester City
