Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KLOPP WAS SURE TO BE HERO RIGHT FROM START
set-ups in training – even if the results are similar in terms of the goals we’ve scored.
“But we know it’s about winning, that’s the bottom line. It’s about trophies, and we’ve put ourselves in a really good position to go on to achieve that over the next few years.
“When you are playing with top players like those three lads up front it’s so enjoyable to watch – and from midfield I get one of the best views in the house – but it’s all about the team. They get the headlines because of how many goals they score, how many chances they create, and how good they are going forward, but they are also fantastic lads in terms of their defensive work and helping us defend from the front as a team.
“Firmino is a prime example of working hard and pressing to win the ball back high up the pitch, which gives us chances to counter-attack. He’s a key player for us in that press. And Mo has been incredible for us this season. I think playing in the Premier League before with Chelsea helped him because he knew the physical demands of English football.
“From the moment he linked up with us in pre-season you thought, ‘This lad can play’ – but since then he’s kicked on again and he’s going from strength to strength.
“Confidence has played a big part in that and he’s full of confidence now.
“He’s scored so many goals, in so many different ways, and he’s been a massive influence for us.
“I’d say that If he keeps performing at his current level, he’s definitely up there for the Premier League’s player of the season.
“Top players are quick to develop an understanding on the pitch in terms of their movement and the thing I really like about the three of them – Firmino, Salah, Mane – is that they don’t really care who scores the goals.
“A lot of strikers are selfish by nature, but they enjoy each other’s success and they appreciate the team giving them a platform to make things happen in the final third.”