Liverpool legend John Barnes has drooled over current striker Roberto Firmino, labelling him as the club’s “most important player”.
The centre-forward managed to score in the Reds’ 3-0 win over Watford at the weekend and has formed an effective trio with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, and he thinks that Firmino’s contribution to the side should not be underestimated.
Barnes says that the attacker is not your classic “number nine”, but he reckons that Firmino has demonstrated his importance to the team through his “energy, pace and strength”.
“Roberto Firmino is not a classic number nine. He’s not a centre forward like Ian Rush or Robert Lewandowski,” he told the Sport Review.
“I think he’s Liverpool’s most important player. Salah has been fantastic and Mane and [Virgil] Van Dijk too, but from an attacking perspective, I think Firmino is our most important player.
“He’s got lots of energy, pace and strength. But he also gives us that intelligence to bring people into play. He also drops into midfield and works hard. He creates so much for Mane and Salah.”
OPINION
It is arguable that Firmino has had a mixed start to the season this time around and that he has not been as effective as he would like. He was playing every single match at the beginning and he was starting to look worn-out and rather tired, but he has since found his scoring boots. Barnes is right though – he is Liverpool’s most important player, especially with the way he creates so many opportunities for the likes of Salah and Mane. Salah in particular would not be able to score the goals that he does if it were not for Firmino, and for that, Jurgen Klopp should be extremely grateful. Yes, he is not your usual number nine, but that does not have to be the case in order to be the Reds’ most important player. What matters is that he is good at what he does – and that is something that he has shown plenty of times since he arrived at the club.
