Roberto Firmino

[red g]

Steven Gerrard hails Roberto Firmino’s “absolutely stunning” display against Hoffenheim

Steven Gerrard was full of praise for Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino for his role in Wednesday night’s 4-2 triumph over Hoffenheim.

The Reds secured their place in the Champions League with a 6-3 aggregate win over the Bundesliga side in their two-legged play-off.

After a hard-fought win in Sinsheim last week, Jurgen Klopp‘s charges turned on the style as European football returned to Anfield, scoring three times in the first 21 minutes.

While Mark Uth and Sandro Wagner struck to reduced the deficit, it was smooth sailing for Liverpool from the first whistle, and Firmino was arguably the standout performer.

Speaking after the game, Gerrard lauded the No. 9’s selfless display alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah in attack.

“Every time Liverpool won possession, the switch of play, because the line was so high with the back three, they caused them all sorts of problems,” he told BT Sport.

“Roberto Firmino’s performance has been absolutely stunning. His quality, his vision.

“He keeps getting Liverpool players in. It was stunning, one, two touch football.

“Every time Roberto Firmino gets the ball, if you’re a runner in this team, your eyes light up and you get on your bike, Kenneths head has fallen off not rating Firmino".

“He drops in deep, lays the ball off and the little dink with [his] left foot to put it on a plate for Emre Can [for his second goal] was world class.”


Firmino created the joint-most chances for the Reds on Wednesday night, with three, level with the improving Georginio Wijnaldum.

His contribution to Can’s second was sensational, with a deft flick laying the ball into the path of Wijnaldum, before charging forward to meet Mane’s backheel and tee up the volley.

Gerrard wasn’t the only one to highlight Firmino’s performance, with Klopp singling his centre-forward out for praise in his post-match press conference.

“Roberto Firmino, what a game he made today—it was pretty much in a lot of moments not to defend,” he told reporters.

“He gave the opportunity to the two quick boys on the wing, that they could have one-on-one situations that they used outstandingly good again.”

With the arrival of Salah this summer, Firmino has shifted into a more natural role in attack, still operating in the central role but able to drop deeper.

This allows him to create openings for his attacking counterparts, and as Liverpool’s performance against Hoffenheim proved, it can prove devastating.

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[fidget]

nice edit

[Kenneth]

It's good to get a name check from the great man, but if he read my posts he would have seen that my criticism of him concerned his goal scoring. Jeez, these footballers are a bit dense (unlike my follow est posters obviously).

[Fernandinho]

I'm interested by the fact that after that performance people are saying he is better coming from deep. If you look at how lots of the opportunities came, it was Firmino dropping from the 9 to receive the ball.

He has an unbelievable ability to receive a difficult ball under lots of pressure and still find an excellent penetrating pass while drawing the center backs out of position, which created the acres of space Mane constantly found himself in.

The way he drops in from the 9 to receive the ball doesn't mean he should be playing 10 at all, because in most of those situations the 10 would be picked up by the opposition 6 everytime. In this situation he would never be able to stretch the defence anywhere near as much because the back 3 or 4 aren't effected by his movement/passing. This can only be achieved when a 9 is being marked by the center backs and the midfield has the space to play that longer direct ball through the middle where a true 10 would just be crowding play.

His ability to receive incredibly difficult balls while under pressure and appear to look like has has all them time in the world is his finest attribute in my point of view.

I feel sorry for people who haven't played much football/can't appreciate how difficult it is to take a pass in these situations, as you will never appreciate the talent Firmino has.

[Kenneth]

lol

[Gingawaria]

He's ****, offers nothing, etc

[Chris]

I'm interested by the fact that after that performance people are saying he is better coming from deep. If you look at how lots of the opportunities came, it was Firmino dropping from the 9 to receive the ball.

He has an unbelievable ability to receive a difficult ball under lots of pressure and still find an excellent penetrating pass while drawing the center backs out of position, which created the acres of space Mane constantly found himself in.

The way he drops in from the 9 to receive the ball doesn't mean he should be playing 10 at all, because in most of those situations the 10 would be picked up by the opposition 6 everytime. In this situation he would never be able to stretch the defence anywhere near as much because the back 3 or 4 aren't effected by his movement/passing. This can only be achieved when a 9 is being marked by the center backs and the midfield has the space to play that longer direct ball through the middle where a true 10 would just be crowding play.

His ability to receive incredibly difficult balls while under pressure and appear to look like has has all them time in the world and has no issue in bringing it down and releasing other players is his finest attribute in my point of view.

I feel sorry for people who haven't played much football/can't appreciate how difficult it is to take a pass in these situations, as you will never appreciate the talent Firmino has.

*applause*

[baitman]

[Buzzo]

I'm interested by the fact that after that performance people are saying he is better coming from deep. If you look at how lots of the opportunities came, it was Firmino dropping from the 9 to receive the ball.

He has an unbelievable ability to receive a difficult ball under lots of pressure and still find an excellent penetrating pass while drawing the center backs out of position, which created the acres of space Mane constantly found himself in.

The way he drops in from the 9 to receive the ball doesn't mean he should be playing 10 at all, because in most of those situations the 10 would be picked up by the opposition 6 everytime. In this situation he would never be able to stretch the defence anywhere near as much because the back 3 or 4 aren't effected by his movement/passing. This can only be achieved when a 9 is being marked by the center backs and the midfield has the space to play that longer direct ball through the middle where a true 10 would just be crowding play.

His ability to receive incredibly difficult balls while under pressure and appear to look like has has all them time in the world is his finest attribute in my point of view.

I feel sorry for people who haven't played much football/can't appreciate how difficult it is to take a pass in these situations, as you will never appreciate the talent Firmino has.

The ball he took in the build up to Cans goal was a good example of constructive hold up play. Ball rifled in to him by Moreno (good pass though) and Firmino dropping in with a defender on him laid it of perfectly to Wijnaldum. Insane through ball. Mane on his bike with mad skills. Bobby pops up again somehow on the wing. Dink. Emre. Checks reflection in mirror. Bosh. 3-0.

When we are playing well Firmino is an integral part of the LFC machine.

[Tatterdemalion]

I'm interested by the fact that after that performance people are saying he is better coming from deep. If you look at how lots of the opportunities came, it was Firmino dropping from the 9 to receive the ball.

He has an unbelievable ability to receive a difficult ball under lots of pressure and still find an excellent penetrating pass while drawing the center backs out of position, which created the acres of space Mane constantly found himself in.

The way he drops in from the 9 to receive the ball doesn't mean he should be playing 10 at all, because in most of those situations the 10 would be picked up by the opposition 6 everytime. In this situation he would never be able to stretch the defence anywhere near as much because the back 3 or 4 aren't effected by his movement/passing. This can only be achieved when a 9 is being marked by the center backs and the midfield has the space to play that longer direct ball through the middle where a true 10 would just be crowding play.

His ability to receive incredibly difficult balls while under pressure and appear to look like has has all them time in the world is his finest attribute in my point of view.

I feel sorry for people who haven't played much football/can't appreciate how difficult it is to take a pass in these situations, as you will never appreciate the talent Firmino has.

I'm one of those people, so that was a nice insight for me, ta.

[Fierce]

I'm interested by the fact that after that performance people are saying he is better coming from deep. If you look at how lots of the opportunities came, it was Firmino dropping from the 9 to receive the ball.

He has an unbelievable ability to receive a difficult ball under lots of pressure and still find an excellent penetrating pass while drawing the center backs out of position, which created the acres of space Mane constantly found himself in.

The way he drops in from the 9 to receive the ball doesn't mean he should be playing 10 at all, because in most of those situations the 10 would be picked up by the opposition 6 everytime. In this situation he would never be able to stretch the defence anywhere near as much because the back 3 or 4 aren't effected by his movement/passing. This can only be achieved when a 9 is being marked by the center backs and the midfield has the space to play that longer direct ball through the middle where a true 10 would just be crowding play.

His ability to receive incredibly difficult balls while under pressure and appear to look like has has all them time in the world is his finest attribute in my point of view.

I feel sorry for people who haven't played much football/can't appreciate how difficult it is to take a pass in these situations, as you will never appreciate the talent Firmino has.

I echo Tatterdemalion's sentiments. I didn't play much football after my teens, so I am very grateful indeed that we have master tacticians on the site to help us peasants understand this wonderful game

A true credit

[danperkins]

[danperkins]

I would love to see Firmino play behind a fully fit Sturridge. The movement, work rate and width that provides behind a clinical goalscorer IMO would be ridiculous. Firmino was sensational last night, some of his passes and through balls were world class & great for him to get on the score sheet too.

[red g]

I would love to see Firmino play behind a fully fit Sturridge. The movement, work rate and width that provides behind a clinical goalscorer IMO would be ridiculous. Firmino was sensational last night , some of his passes and through balls were world class & great for him to get on the score sheet too.

only if we had time machine!!

[BG1973]

I echo Tatterdemalion's sentiments. I didn't play much football after my teens, so I am very grateful indeed that we have master tacticians on the site to help us peasants understand this wonderful game

A true credit

At last, the evidence we've all been waiting for