TalkSPORT host Andy Goldstein has shot down the suggestion that Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino is a better striker than Manchester City star Sergio Aguero.
Responding to a caller’s claim that the Reds’ Brazilian ace was better than the likes of City’s Argentine hero or Tottenham hitman Harry Kane, the radio presenter called the comments “stupid”, insisting that Firmino would not even get into City’s side were he to move between the Premier League rivals.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Drive show (September 4) he said: “He’s not better than Aguero is he? He wouldn’t (get in the team). They’ve got players, they’ve got De Bruyne, David Silva, Bernardo Silva that do stuff for the team.
“I’m telling you now, if Firmino moves to City he’s not getting in that starting XI. Is he better than Harry Kane?
“When we get stupid callers like yours, saying that Firmino is better than Aguero, they go out online. He’s talking nonsense, madness.”
"I reckon Firmino is the best forward in the Premier League."
"If he was at #MCFC, he'd get in ahead of Aguero." ?
"He's better than Harry Kane." ??@AndyGoldstein05 and @DGoughie were left shocked after Kieran the Liverpool fan phoned @talkSPORT ?? pic.twitter.com/F7GpQudZb0
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) September 4, 2019
Firmino has scored 98 goals in 168 appearances for Liverpool since moving from Hoffenheim, with 50 of those coming in the Premier League.
Aguero meanwhile has netted 170 top-flight goals in 243 games for Manchester City, leaving him sitting sixth in the all-time top-scorers list in the Premier League.
Opinion
It would be fair to say that this caller touched a nerve with Goldstein, who quite clearly does not rate Firmino’s contribution as much as others. Yes, he might not score nearly as many goals as someone like Aguero but the fact of the matter is they are completely different players. The Argentine is an out-and-out centre forward whose sole objective is to stick the ball in the back of the net, whereas the Brazilian offers a bigger contribution to bringing others into play. Would Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have netted as many goals as they have if they had Aguero leading the line? Probably not, but the City man might have hit 30 goals for himself with the quality of service the Reds duo can offer. Firmino and Aguero might both be leading the line for their respective clubs but they have a different duty to carry out and that makes them almost incomparable.
