Strengths:
Dribbling, through balls and shooting. These are probably the three primary skills potentially world-class attacking midfielders need, and the Brazilian’s got them in abundance. He loves picking up the ball in the opposition half and running at the opposing back four, where he can either look to assist a fellow attacker or have a pop himself. In a manner not befitting to many South American attackers, Firmino works his socks off defensively as well. He battles to win the ball back and will never be caught lazily hovering and waiting to be found in space. He forces his team-mates to give them the ball if he hasn’t won it back already. You’ll see Firmino regularly attempting first-time flicked passes or shorter lay-offs in an attempt to slice open a defence, too. His main attribute – the one that makes him stand out – is his finishing. Firmino is as clinical in front of goal as a top pedigree striker, despite his position.
