- Jurgen Klopp keen to keep Roberto Firmino’s feet on the ground
- Brazilian sublime in 5-1 Brighton demolition
- Our no.9 scores twice to make it 11 goals for the campaign in all competitions
- SEE MORE: “He’s exceptional”- Firmino describes Klopp’s impact on him at Liverpool
Roberto Firmino, alongside Coutinho, was maybe our best player during the 5-1 demolition of Brighton at the weekend.
Our mercurial Brazilian scored twice, making it 11 for the season, but impressed all-around with his fantastic work off the ball.
He’s ferocious when Liverpool are not in possession and when we are, makes sure to drag defenders out of position for his team-mates or make runs and offer them passing options.
Jurgen Klopp though was keen not to laud his no.9 too much; describing his performance as ‘a little annoying’ for the opposition, but ‘not world-class’!
“Roberto scored twice, but what he did around these goals is what excites me the most, to be honest,” the Reds boss said, cited in the Mirror.
“In all the counter-attacks, pretty much, he won the ball. By being here, by being a little annoying, a little foot, a little toe, that for us is important. Then the ball is go.
“With all the rest around him, you need to get used to it.
“They are all different and all good. For me, I really like these players. That’s why they are here.
“I’m happy with the performance, of course. But to be honest, I don’t think it was world class or anything like this. It was doing the job.”
Klopp has said similar things about Mo Salah and Sadio Mane in the past when they’ve done outstanding things, and we think he’s just trying to keep Firmino’s feet on the ground.
In total, Firmino has 16 goal involvements this term – that’s more than Lukaku, Aguero, Lacazette and Morata.
He’s elite.