Chelsea striker João Pedro has delivered a bold verdict on Liverpool’s legendary attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Roberto Firmino, placing them above iconic front threes from both Arsenal and Manchester United.
In a video with Viaplay, he was asked to choose between three famous Premier League front threes: Arsenal’s Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo, and Liverpool’s Salah, Mané and Firmino.
To the dismay of Arsenal and Manchester United fans and despite the legendary status of the other two combinations, Joao Pedro selected Liverpool’s trio.
The Brazilian forward couldn't help but wax lyrical about the devastating trio, pointing out that their terrifying blend of breakneck pace, Samba flair, and ruthless directness made them utterly unstoppable.
He highlighted how their lethal real-world chemistry translated seamlessly into gaming culture, noting that using Salah, Mané, and Firmino on the video game FIFA now known as EAFC27 was practically a cheat code for players. Whether tearing actual Premier League defences to shreds on a Saturday afternoon or tormenting virtual opponents on the screen, Liverpool's front line stood in a league of it's own.
Joao Pedro experienced Liverpool’s front three first-hand
He knows firsthand just how lethal that Reds attack was.
Back in October 2021, he watched from the Watford bench as Jürgen Klopp’s side tore the Hornets apart in a 5-0 thrashing at Vicarage Road.
Firmino stole the show with a sensational hat-trick and an assist, while Mané opened the scoring and Salah capped off a breathtaking display with a genius solo goal and an assist of his own. It was a masterclass that showed the young forward exactly why that iconic Liverpool front three terrified defenses across Europe.
The Brazilian was a substitute for Watford when they hosted Liverpool in October 2021, as Jurgen Klopp’s side produced a stunning 5-0 victory.
Firmino scored a hat-trick and registered an assist, while Mane also found the net. Salah completed the rout and added an assist as Liverpool’s famous attacking combination demonstrated exactly why they had become one of Europe’s most feared front threes.
That crushing Vicarage Road defeat marked one of the rare moments the Brazilian forward witnessed the full, unadulterated power of Liverpool’s devastating attack up close.
Liverpool got incredible value for money
praise also highlights just how remarkable Liverpool’s recruitment was when building their iconic front three.
Salah arrived from Roma for £36.9m, Mane joined from Southampton for £34m, while Firmino was signed from Hoffenheim for £29m.
That gave Liverpool a combined transfer cost of just £99.9m.
Compare that with some of the Premier League’s modern front threes and the financial difference is remarkable. Liverpool’s current attacking trio of Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo has cost around £275m, while Manchester City’s combination of Antoine Semenyo, Iliman Ndiaye and Erling Haaland totals around £176m.
Chelsea’s attack of Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer comes in at approximately £217m, while Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko cost around £193.5m.
Yes, football's financial landscape has changed dramatically since Liverpool completed their attacking trio, but the numbers underline the extraordinary value Klopp’s side received.
338 goals and 139 assists
From Salah's arrival in 2017/18 until Mane's departure in 2022, the trio combined for an extraordinary 338 Liverpool goals.
Salah led the way with 156, followed by Mane with 107 and Firmino with 75.
They also produced 139 assists, with 66 percent coming directly between members of the trio.
The Brazilian false-9 provided the most assists to Salah with 21, whilst Mane and Salah both assisted each other 18 times despite the speculation surrounding their on-pitch relationship and chemistry.
Together, Salah, Mane and Firmino won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.
Joao Pedro’s verdict is therefore another reminder of just how special Liverpool’s iconic front three really was.
For Liverpool supporters, it is a combination that feels increasingly difficult to replace.
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