FIRMINO DOUBLES MONEY IN FIVE-YEAR DEAL

ROBERTO FIRMINO has given Liverpool a huge boost ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg by agreeing a new five-year deal. The Brazil forward has become one of Liverpool’s most important players and has scored 27 goals this season. Jurgen Klopp believes the 26-year-old plays a vital role in making his team function. Firmino joined Liverpool in June 2015 for £29million from German side Hoffenheim and would have had two years left on a deal that paid a basic wage of around £80,000 per week but was also heavily incentivised. The new deal is said to be worth around £150,000 a week. Liverpool have been in discussions with Firmino’s advisers since Christmas and he now joins Anfield’s highest earners, an indication of the key role he performs. Liverpool’s ambition is to keep the nucleus of their squad together and Firmino has given huge credit to Klopp for accelerating his development on Merseyside. ‘The manager helped me a lot after he arrived here,’ said Firmino. ‘His arrival at the football club was not only good for me but for the whole team. We’ve grown a lot and now we are showing that in our results.’

Firmino has created a piece of history this season; his total of 11 European goals — the same as team-mate Mohamed Salah — is the highest ever for a Liverpool player in a single campaign. He will have a huge part to play if Liverpool are going to maintain their three-goal advantage when they travel to Roma for Wednesday’s second leg of their clash with the Serie A side. Firmino told the club’s website: ‘I am very, very happy here. We all know how big Liverpool Football Club is. It is a club with a lot of tradition, so I hope to continue with the whole team going forward, dreaming aloud and aiming very high. ‘Hopefully we will be able to win titles, that’s the most important thing. ‘The club have taken me in, in an incredible way, and I’ve grown a lot here with my work, with the support of the whole team.’