Klopp waxes lyrical over ‘complete offensive player’

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Reports suggest Roberto Firmino won’t start Liverpool’s game with Swansea City today, but it certainly isn’t because Jurgen Klopp doesn’t rate the silky Brazilian.

The German took time to praise the summer signing recently, via the Echo, following his mesmeric display at the Etihad last weekend. Together with Coutinho, Firmino destroyed Manchester City, finally showing Liverpool fans why the club agreed to shell out £29m for his services.

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But Klopp believes he’ll keep getting better and better.

“Firmino is a complete offensive player. He can play each position. It took him time to move from Hoffenheim – a small development club in Germany – to play at Liverpool,” he began.

“[It was] a big difference and he needed to adapt to his new situation, this new pressure.

“I know him very well from Germany so he does not have to show something special to me because I know everything about him and his qualities.

“He’s a nice lad. His English is getting better.”

Firmino became recognised as one of the best attackers in the Bundesliga during his stay in Germany, bagging 32 goals in total during his last two seasons with Hoffenheim.

He’s not hit the ground running in England, but showed glimpses and the kind of potential that simply cannot be ignored.

Interestingly, he’s looked best as a false 9, despite arriving at the club as genuine no.10. With Daniel Sturridge and Christian Benteke chomping for a start up top though, it may be that Firmino will start in attacking midfield in the future.

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