Tony Pulis has been raving about Roberto Firmino after the Liverpool forward came off the bench to help the Reds win 3-1 against Newcastle United at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Firmino replaced Divock Origi in the first half after the Belgian suffered an injury and the former Hoffenheim player went on to assist goals for both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to help the Merseyside giants secure all three points despite going behind early on.
Former Stoke and West Brom manager Pulis was thrilled with what he saw from Firmino once he was introduced to the action, claiming that he is the one player who brings the Liverpool attack together.
“The substitution actually changed the game,” said Pulis on Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday [11:53am].
“I thought Newcastle were well set up. They looked pretty solid and then he comes on.
“He’s done fantastic. He’s got better every year he’s been in this country for Liverpool.
“He knits it all together – that’s the great thing.
“Mane and Salah will get the praise for the goals but the kid there in the middle of the pitch actually knits it all, he brings everything together for Liverpool.
“He’s a top, top player.”
OPINION
Firmino was at the very top of his game against Newcastle – Steve Bruce’s side stood basically no chance once he came onto the pitch in the first half. Liverpool were not at the races at all before he came on. While Mane did get the scores level before Jurgen Klopp made the change, the Reds never really looked as though they were massively threatening the Newcastle goal. As Pulis said, Bruce set up his defence very well and he must have been relieved when the team news broke that Firmino was on the bench and Liverpool’s world-class front-three was disrupted with Origi playing alongside Mane and Salah. It shows how in tune the three players are that if just one of them drops out there can be problems. Klopp has a big decision ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match against Napoli now. Does he rest any of those three forwards? Or does he keep pressing on with them and potentially run the risk of fatigue or injuries?
