Jason McAteer has compared Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino to Barcelona star Lionel Messi in glowing praise of the Brazilian.
The former Reds’ midfielder singled out the South American as one of the club’s best-ever forwards, simply down to his ability to make Jurgen Klopp’s side tick.
McAteer also heaped praise on Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane but claimed that Liverpool are a completely different side without him in the side.
“They have had some great number nines and Roberto Firmino makes this side tick,” he wrote in the Racing Post.
“They needed a magician in that attack who pulls everything together and it is similar to how Lionel Messi has played in a Barcelona team set up around him. Firmino is Liverpool’s Messi.”
“The system suits Mo Salah and Sadio Mane but it is Firmino who makes it all work – without him, Liverpool are a different animal.”
Firmino has started the season in great form at Anfield, scoring three goals as well as assisting three in the final third for his teammates as he spearheads the attack.
OPINION
McAteer is spot on, Liverpool are a completely different team when Firmino is in the final third, and he simply makes the game look so easy. The Brazilian international may not take the headlines as much as the likes of Salah and Mane, but his growing importance at Anfield is starting to grab the attention. The 28-year-old has been phenomenal for Liverpool, and that has been proven when he is out of the side, in games such as the UEFA Super Cup final against Chelsea. Firmino missed the first-half in that game and came on at half-time to make the ultimate difference in that clash. Firmino has completed 2.5 dribbles per outing according to WhoScored – the most in the entire Reds’ squad, and it does highlight how he could be compared to Messi, who also loves to get on the ball whenever possible. Firmino is becoming better as the games continue and will play a major part in Liverpool’s bid for their first-ever Premier League title.
