Firmino key to Reds’ European success
LIVERPOOL: Mohamed Salah has scored more goals, Sadio Mane may have more explosive pace, but Roberto Firmino is the glue that knits together a devastating Liverpool front three that is fast making the five-time European champions feared on the continent once more.
Liverpool go into Tuesday’s Champions League last 16, second leg at home to Porto with the job already done having inflicted the Portuguese giants’ worstever home European defeat in a 5-0 rout three weeks ago.
All of Liverpool’s free-scoring forward trio were on target that night, as they have been for most of the season. Their combined tally now stands at 68, with Firmino’s 22 already by a distance his best return for a single campaign since joining from Hoffenheim in 2015. However, the Brazilian is much more than a striker who just scores goals. His pass for Mane to seal a 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday was also his 13th assist of the season.
“Mo Salah, world class, but not every day. Sadio Mane, world class, but not every day. Roberto Firmino, world class, pretty much every day,” Klopp told newspaper the Mail on Sunday recently.
It isn’t surprising to hear the highest of praise from his German coach as Firmino is the embodiment of what Klopp wants from his side.
“Yes, you’ve got Salah and Mane, but Firmino’s hold-up play and work off the ball makes him one of the best attacking players in the Premier League,” former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. “He’s a top player.”
From a slow start at Anfield, Klopp has cultivated Firmino into the player he is now. His technical ability as a former attacking midfielder allied to his athleticism has produced a fluidity in Liverpool’s front three that is proving almost impossible to stop.
“With Mane you have the pace
and directness, with Firmino you have the touch and hold-up play and securing the ball, and then you have Salah that gives you a bit of both and delivers goals,” Liverpool great Steven Gerrard said to BT Sport. “The blend is superb. There’s no greed in the team, there’s nobody who is selfish. They all pass the ball to each other.”