Roberto Firmino has looked lethargic and in need of a rest for most of this season, so it’s not ideal that he’s going to play potentially two full matches for Brazil during this international break – especially when both are meaningless friendlies.
Liverpool’s 27-year-old played the full 90 minutes against Uruguay on Friday night but Brazil boss Tite has confirmed that our no.9 will start against Cameroon tonight as well.
“Roberto Firmino is still a new player in the national team and so it’s only fair to give him his chance to get used to that position and to create his understanding with the players around him,” Tite said, reported in the Mirror.
It’s good for Firmino that he’s ahead of Gabriel Jesus in Tite’s pecking order, finally, but potentially damaging for us.
We play Watford this coming weekend at Vicarage Road, which will be a tough test considering their form this term – and we’ll need Bobby back to his best.
Last season he got 27 goals, but is only on four altogether this term – although in fairness – he is playing a slightly different role.
In 2017/18, Firmino was an out and out no.9, but often this campaign Jurgen Klopp has chosen to use him in a deeper role and get Salah into a more natural forward role.
So long as our results continue to be good, we’re not complaining, but would like to see Firmino enjoying his football and showing his incredible off-the-ball attributes more regularly.