Firmino’s the Kop Cantona

WILY BRAZILIAN IS LIVERPOOL’S ANSWER TO LEGEND ERIC SAYS BRUCE

THERE was a hint of wistfulness in Steve Bruce’s voice as he considered the comparison.

“Look, Cantona is as good a player as I’ve ever seen,” he said. “I haven’t seen Firmino week in, week out but…”

The Newcastle boss had every right to make the connection. Eric Cantona was the catalyst at Manchester United, the genius who orchestrated that brilliant side led by Bruce.

For Liverpool on Saturday, Firmino – despite emerging only as a 37th-minute substitute – was a sublime conductor, setting a compelling tempo with an exquisite flourish.

“Firmino is similar to Cantona in that he drifts into that little area – and he does it naturally – where it’s so difficult for defenders to go,” said Bruce.

“I haven’t seen him week in, week out like Eric but just when you see him here today and what he gives them, it’s a perfect balance.And Cantona gave us that.

“Back in the day, we had Giggs and Kanchelskis who had frightening pace and stretched sides so much like Liverpool’s two, and Cantona dropped into that hole and people couldn’t get anywhere near him. That’s what you see with Firmino.”

Sadio Mane scored twice in the first half after Jetro Willems had put Newcastle in front, with Mo Salah scoring a superb third after the break.

It would be easy to rave on about Firmino’s pass for Liverpool’s second or backheel for Salah’s goal. Yet it is the stuff beyond that which is his true weapon.

For instance, running back to rob Christian Atsu that created Mane’s crucial goal just before half-time. And the countless times he drifted into that space Bruce spoke so admiringly about (and he should know, as one of the legendary ‘proper’ centre-halves) where defenders fear to tread.

When they came with him, it created space for Salah and Mane.

When they did not, he had time to create havoc himself.

As Bruce said: “His attitude and work rate, they’re so important. Firmino is the one that drops in, but the pace of the other two is frightening. He drops in and the other two are running over your shoulder.

“It’s quite unbelievable…at this moment is there anyone better? The one down the road, I suppose, is there at the minute [Manchester City] but they are as good as you get.”

That is Liverpool now, like City a team opponents fear to provoke. And that is the biggest progress they have made over the past 12 months.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Adrian 7; Alexander-Arnold 7, Matip 7, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 8; Oxlade-Chamberlain 7 (Milner 75), Fabinho 7, Wijnaldum 8 (Shaqiri 84); Salah 8, Origi 6 (Firmino 37, 9), Mane 9. Goals: Mane 28, 40, Salah 72.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-5-1): Dubravka 6; Krafth 5 (Manquillo 67, 6), Schar 7 (Fernandez 80), Lascelles 6, Dummett 6; Willems 7, Almiron 6 (Muto 67, 6), Hayden 6, Shelvey 6, Atsu 6; Joelinton 7.

Goal: Willems 7.

TWO OF A KIND: Bruce hugs Cantona and Salah thanks Firmino for setting him up, right