BT Sport pundit and former Spurs and England midfielder Jermaine Jenas says Roberto Firmino is as good as anyone in world football right now, putting the Brazilian up there with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Jenas went on to say that if Messi or Ronaldo were available, the Reds would rather have the former Hoffenheim man because of the level he is at currently.
The 28-year-old has been dancing around opponents at will so far this season, and he was at his brilliant best yesterday as he transformed the game against Newcastle United when he came off the bench in the first half.
Jenas told BT Sport (via the Sport Review): “He is absolutely sublime. Over the years, he’s earned the respect. He’s earned the amount of space he gets. He’s the difference. Mane and Salah don’t have the magic to do what Firmino does in tight areas.
“He has a vacuum of bodies that come towards him and he still knows where the space is to get out. It’s a special trait that he has.
“Automatically, you’d swap him for Messi or Ronaldo. When you break it down, for what he gives to Liverpool, there aren’t many, if any, who are better than him.”
Firmino is the perfect Jurgen Klopp number nine, and there is no one like him. Divock Origi is a decent enough player, but the drop-off when Firmino was not on the pitch against Newcastle was very obvious.
The Reds are currently on a 14-game winning run in the Premier League. Keep Firmino fit and firing and that will only be extended.