Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has labelled Reds forward Roberto Firmino ‘the most unselfish player you could ever imagine’.
The Brazilian has earned a reputation as a master facilitator since making the move to Anfield, and is clearly the most crucial cog in Liverpool’s fearsome front three.
Owen is a huge fan: “Look at Liverpool, there’s a bit of an argument between [Mohamed] Salah and [Sadio] Mane,” he told The Times [14/09; Sport pullout pg. 7]. “Firmino is the most unselfish player you could ever imagine, and then you’ve got Salah chasing records, he’s hungry, he’s more selfish than Mane.”
OPINION
This interview with Owen was obviously conducted before Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday, but Owen’s assessment of Firmino was borne out at Anfield. The Brazilian climbed off the bench for the injured Divock Origi and provided two assists for his attacking colleagues Mane and Salah. His assist for the latter was an absolutely sensational bit of skill, as he controlled the ball with the touch of a cushion before laying it off perfectly into the path of the onrushing Egyptian. Salah did the rest, finishing superbly past Martin Dubravka in the Newcastle goal. Firmino is so unbelievably unselfish, something that became even more apparent after the Mane-Salah disagreement in the Burnley game before the international break. Owen was speaking in the interview about how selfish he was as a striker and how selfish all top forwards are, but Firmino is the opposite, while still being an unbelievable player.
