Firimino is good in air and tall enough...decent bit taller and stronger than likes of Villa.
He was used as focal point in box from Liverpool when teams sat deep.
Liverpool is not a good example for your point.
Also as said.. Liverpool and City both chose to spend huge money on big CFs.
They did but won loads without and possibly both were better without. City might have beaten the likes of Brentford and beaten Fulham easier with aguero in his peak