Liverpool supporters have been pretty quiet in recent times after seeing their side fail to get back to winning ways in only mustering a draw in the Premier League on Monday night.
Jurgen Klopp’s men went into their meeting with West Ham at the London Stadium off the back of drawing 1-1 with Leicester City in midweek, a result which did move them five points clear at the top of the division courtesy of Manchester City’s defeat at Newcastle United. Yet the Citizens bounced back in beating Arsenal at the weekend, only for the Reds to muster another 1-1 draw, this time against Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham, which leaves Klopp’s side with a narrow three-point lead at the summit of the Premier League.
As such, there have been some quiet Liverpool fans up and down the country in recent times after their side’s unconvincing week, a week which has seen striker Roberto Firmino fail to add to his tally of nine Premier League goals so far this season.
And while the Brazil international hasn’t quite hit the heights of previous seasons so far this time round, there is little doubting just how vital he is to Klopp’s side, with the Liverpool boss without doubt needing to thank predecessor Brendan Rodgers for equipping him with a Reds lynchpin.
Ultimately, in what was to be Rodgers’ final transfer window in charge at Anfield, the now-Celtic boss sealed a £36.9 million deal (as per Transfermarkt) to lure Firmino to the Merseyside giants from German outfit Hoffenheim, although the Northern Irishman wasn’t able to get the best out of him given the attacker failed to score under his stewardship.
But the arrival of Klopp in October 2015 completely reinvigorated Firmino and eventually saw him become the £36.9 million signing Liverpool fans had hoped to see, what with the 27-year-old eventually going to net ten times in the 2015/16 season, which wasn’t a bad return given he only scored once prior to the New Year.
Yet he has since then become a mainstay in Klopp’s team such is his quality in the final third of the field, not only in terms of on the ball in scoring and creating opportunities, but also off it in leading from the front with the relentless pressing Klopp asks of his side – Firmino has been the perfect man for the role ever since the German took charge.
And as part of a front three that are likely to be the envy of many a side in Europe, the Brazilian ace has flourished, not least last season in bagging 27 times and laying on 17 assists for the Reds in their run to fourth place in the league and indeed the Champions League final – between him, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah, the trio bagged 91 goals in all competitions last term.
Yes, this season hasn’t seen Firmino live up to the same lofty standards, having failed to reach ten Premier League goals yet, but it’s clear just how crucial he is to Klopp’s side even when he is not scoring goals – he still has four assists to his name, but he also works brilliantly off the ball to lead the press effectively.
And that is why Klopp owes Rodgers a great deal for luring the 27-year-old to Anfield back in 2016 – the Northern Irishman wasn’t able to get the best out of him, but there is no doubting that Klopp has, and continues to do so.
Liverpool fans… what do you think? Let us know!
