Cristiano Ronaldo has officially left Liverpool's archrival Manchester United after reaching an agreement to end his contract at Old Trafford.
Portugal may be missing Liverpool's Diogo Jota due to injury at the World Cup, but their victory over Ghana on matchday one demonstrated that they still have an enviable array of forward options.
Fernando Santos' side won 3-2 at Stadium 974 thanks to two emerging 23-year-old stars, Joo Félix and Rafael Leo.
The star of the show, of course, was the veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, who opened the scoring from the penalty spot and became the first player to score in five World Cups.
Ronaldo achieved the milestone as a free agent, having agreed to terminate his contract with Manchester United following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
It's a move that leaves United with just two senior center-forward options in Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, neither of whom are true number nines. Rashford has played more on the left side in recent years, while Martial has played more on the right.Liverpool, of course, won the Premier League last season despite not having a designated striker.
Going without a striker can work, but United simply do not have the personnel. Rashford has scored 13 goals in 51 appearances across all club competitions since the start of last season, but only eight in 39 in the Premier League.
As it turned out, the Frenchman stayed in the summer and has played fairly well this season, scoring four goals and setting up two more in seven appearances.
The issue is that he has only made seven appearances. His injury woes have persisted, with an Achilles injury and a back complaint keeping him out for much of the season.
With Ronaldo gone, the failure of United's striker planning has been highlighted.
After attempting to force his way out in the summer (via Sky Sports), the club knew his departure was inevitable, whether he forced a transfer in January or left at the end of his contract in June.
United did have the option to extend his contract by another year (via Goal), but it's difficult to imagine them doing so in light of his obvious dissatisfaction.
Even if Ronaldo was committed, they required the services of another player. In the prime of their careers, they lacked a reliable number nine option.
Liverpool, on the other hand, has found the perfect balance. Jürgen Klopp has the option of selecting the experienced Roberto Firmino, the peaking Diogo Jota, or the raw but improving Darwin Nez.The depth of strength is extensive, and there is stylistic variety. Firmino is a master of the false nine, Jota is a winger-turned-penalty-box-poacher, and Nez is a proven striker.
In terms of stocking up their striker ranks, Liverpool are a model for their rivals.
Meanwhile, by January, United must deliver an elite-level center-forward in their mid-20s. That's bound to be an expensive endeavor in the summer, let alone the winter, when a premium is often expected.It's a daunting task for a club that has already spent more than £200 million this season, the second-highest outlay in the division.
And if they fail to meet this demand, their chances of finishing in the top four could be jeopardized, while Liverpool's chances may improve significantly.
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