Stats prove if Firmino took penalties he’d be considered one of best strikers on planet

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When it comes to everything else apart from finishing, Roberto Firmino is in a league of his own.

That’s including everybody in Europe, not just the Premier League.

No striker in Europe has done more sprints, passes or tackles than the Brazilian. He also covers more ground than any other forward in Europe and has created the most chances, too.

However, in terms of goals scored he sits 57th. But the fact he doesn’t take penalties skews his stats in comparison to other strikers.. If he’d notched all of James Milner’s 7 attempts this campaign for example, he’d be on 16, which would rank him fifth in the Premier League, one ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic…

That being said, Firmino is not an elite finisher, but his overall contribution to games cannot be ignored.

Liverpool are still top scorers in the Premier League, which suggests his creative threat is just as useful as someone putting it in the back of the net themselves.

Do we need another striker in the summer? A more clinical one? Probably – but not perhaps at the expense of Firmino – but as an option when the South American’s relentless attempts to force goals (one way or another), fail.

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