Virgil Van Dijk has singled out Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino as the best player he has ever played with.
The Reds’ enforcer claimed he was biased in his selection of the Brazilian international who has formed a deadly partnership with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah in the previous two seasons.
Speaking in an interview with talkSPORT, Van Dijk picked the Liverpool forward who opened his account for the season against Southampton.
“I’m going to be a little bit biased and say one of my team-mates; I would say Roberto Firmino,” he said.
Firmino plays centrally in between Mane and Salah, who both picked up the Premier League Golden Boot award last season with 22 goals, compared to the 12 scored by the Brazilian.
OPINION
The way Liverpool have played in the previous two seasons or so, it is hard to single out just one player who you could class as the best. When you consider the fact that Mane and Salah have scored the majority of the goals at Anfield, you could class Firmino has a potential unsung hero for the Reds – with the Brazilian going about his work so effectively. It isn’t all about goals for the 27-year-old, who likes to drop deeper into the heart of midfield and pick up possession, therefore allowing him space to run into to create opportunities. After turning the UEFA Super Cup on its head after coming on at half-time, Firmino then ensured all three points away at Southampton and has had a great start to the season. Firmino has averaged three shots on goal per game so far, the most of any Reds’ player, as well as completing 3.5 dribbles – something only bettered by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the beginning of the season [WhoScored]. Firmino has enjoyed a phenomenal couple of years for Liverpool, and looks set for another campaign filled with success, and is fully deserved of all the recognition he may receive.
