FIRMINO? IT’S UNCANNY

Bruce: Eric the Red was United’s conductor – now the Kop’s boy from Brazil has picked up baton

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. I haven’t seen Firmino week in week out but…”

The Newcastle manager had every cause to make the connection.

Eric Cantona was the catalyst when he played at Manchester United in the 90s, 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 where it’s so difficult for defenders to go,” said Bruce. “I haven’t seen him week in week out like I did with Eric but what he gives Liverpool is a perfect balance. And Cantona gave us that.

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

Sadio Mane (with Firmino, below) scored twice in the first half after Jetro Willems had put Newcastle in front with a scorching drive. Mo Salah added a superb third after the break.

It would be easy to rave on about the pass Firmino (right) played to Mane for Liverpool’s second or the back heel that gave Salah a goal-of-the-season contender. Yet it is the stuff beyond those eyecatching moments of genius that is his true weapon.

For instance, the running back to rob Christian Atsu that created Mane’s crucial goal just before half-time.

And the countless times he drifted into the space that defenders fear to tread. When they went with the Brazilian, it created so much space for Salah and Mane. When they didn’t, he had time to create havoc himself.

As Bruce said: “His attitude and work-rate are so important.

“Firmino is the one who drops in but the pace of the other two is frightening. He drops in and the other two are running over your shoulder.

“They only lost once last year and didn’t win the league which was quite unbelievable.

“They are a very, very good side and will cause any team problems. They are as good as you get.

They are fantastic.

“At this moment is there anyone better?

The one down the road (Manchester

City) I suppose, but they are certainly as good as you get.”

Bruce, captain of that truly great

United side, knows what he is talkingabout.whathe sees is a side that opponents must make concessions for or risk a thrashing.

“Back when I played for United, everybody suddenly started playing one centre-forward against us,” he said.

“Everyone played with two, then suddenly they would put an extra midfield player in and it’s what you have to do because you are under threat of getting a hiding.

“And a team like Liverpool, they have two full-backs up the pitch, they attack at every opportunity, then you face being blown away.

“They can do that to you and you have to acknowledge that.

“If you open up against sides like this then…

“You have to find a way to win even when you know a team is far better than you.”

That is Liverpool now. Like City they a team opponents are scared to provoke. And that is the biggest progress they have made over the past 12 months.