Klopp: Firmino not rocked by £70k burglary
LIVERPOOL striker Roberto Firmino and his family were forced to spend Christmas in a hotel after their home was burgled.
The Brazil international was not at home — nor was his wife, Larissa, or their two daughters — when a gang of thieves broke in on December 22 and ransacked the property, taking clothes, jewellery and watches with a value that has been estimated in reports at about £70,000.
Liverpool moved Firmino into the hotel for Christmas and a club security team have been deployed to protect him and his family since they returned to their apartment.
Forensic officers have searched the property, but police have yet to track down the gang or recover any stolen items. This has been a difficult period for Firmino as, just days after the break-in, he was charged with drink-driving after he was stopped by police in Liverpool city centre.
‘That case is still proceeding and will be heard by magistrates on January 31.
Throughout the past fortnight, though, Firmino — one of the club’s star performers this season — has not lost any focus.
‘He started each of the three subsequent Premier League games, scoring against Stoke on December 27, and came on as a substitute in Sunday’s FA Cup draw with Plymouth.
Manager Jurgen Klopp and Firmino have a strong relationship and converse in German, a language the Brazilian speaks fluently following his spell in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim.
The way he has gone about his job has prompted Klopp to hail the 25-year-old’s mental strength and resilience. ‘What can I say? It’s been difficult,’ remarked Klopp. ‘But he has dealt really well with it on the pitch. ‘That is how Roberto is. ‘When he is on the pitch, he thinks about nothing else other than football.
‘It is a big strength of his, I would say. But it has not been nice.’
Firmino will have a crucial role to play tomorrow in the first leg of Liverpool’s EFL Cup semi-final with Southampton, given that Sadio Mane, the club’s top scorer, is now with Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations and Jordan Henderson, Liverpool’s captain, is injured.
A significant piece of good news has arrived, however, with Philippe Coutinho fit enough to travel to St Mary’s.
Firmino’s Brazil team-mate has been absent since November 26, when he damaged ankle ligaments in the 2-0 win over Sunderland.
The midfielder has taken part in three full training sessions with the first team.
It is, Klopp concedes, not ideal, but he is ready to include him in the travelling party rather than give him a few more days to prepare for Sunday’s showdown with Manchester United.
‘The time is not long enough for him to be 100 per cent for Manchester United, but he could play,’ said Klopp.
‘We’ve spoken before about there being a difference between being fit and match fit, but, of course, it’s Phil, so we want to try everything we can to bring him as close as possible to his 100 per cent.
‘In this moment, I’d say it makes sense for him to be involved against Southampton, in the squad, and we will see what happens there — whether we have to use him or not or whatever.
‘If not, we have another three days to prepare him for United.
‘We will see if he’s ready on Wednesday morning.
‘Then we will make the decision. He needs minutes in training and in games, but he is in a very good way.’