A number of Liverpool fans have jumped to the defence of Roberto Firmino after a report from Football Critic found that he had the largest discrepancy of goals scored to expected goals (xG) in Europe’s major leagues, which was subsequently highlighted by @AnfieldEdition on Twitter.
The 28-year-old has plundered eight Premier League goals for the Reds this season but the Football Critic report stated his xG figure at 15.5, his negative discrepancy of 7.5 the highest in Europe. In five years at Anfield, he has never scored fewer than 10 goals in a single league campaign.
According to a study by a Football Critic, Roberto Firmino is statistically the worst finisher across Europe’s major leagues, with his xG having the biggest discrepancy between the number of goals he’s scored and the number he should have scored.
Thoughts Reds? ? pic.twitter.com/LTJ9QFTHSI
— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) April 1, 2020
Although Firmino’s overall goal tally of 11 for the season is down on his 16 from last term and 27 from the season before, he has been lauded by Jurgen Klopp as the team’s “connector” for how his unselfish link-up play works so well in Liverpool’s overall tactical system. Also, while he may not have scored abundantly this term, he has had a happy knack of making his goals count big, with late winners against Crystal Palace, Wolves and Monterrey, as well as the extra time clincher in the Club World Cup final.
These Liverpool fans gave their firm backing to the striker and dismissed the report’s findings, with one Kopite lauding Firmino as “mustard“:
Yeah he can’t finish but he’s mustard so I don’t care. We’re not exactly doing very badly with him in the side ?
— adam (@lfcads2001) April 1, 2020
Bobby isn’t part of the system, he is the system ??
— Carl Humphries ???????????? (@c_humphries147) April 1, 2020
I am sure when Jurgen looks back at the trophies in the cabinet that Roberto Firmino helped him win he sheds a tear that “Football Critic” says otherwise.
— LFC Views (@Mobyhaque1) April 1, 2020
Don’t care. What this guys brings to our team is priceless. Wouldn’t swop him for anyone in the world.
— David Goulbourn (@DavidGoulbourn1) April 1, 2020
Firmino is not played for his finishing abilities. He is played for his technical ability to hold up the ball, take defenders out of position which creates space for Mane and Salah to slot in and score those loads of goals.
And pressing, no striker does it better.
— Sabalwanyi (@Sabalwanyi1) April 2, 2020
Don’t care
Love him— LFC7610 (@LFC7610) April 1, 2020
Who cares he suits us and assists Mane and Salah which others would not do as well.
— Ghalib #YNWA (@ghalibtaimur) April 1, 2020
Obviously we need to buy a world class striker if we are ever going to find ourselves 20+ points ahead in the league…
— ?? James ?? Firminamino ?? (@livesey_james) April 1, 2020
Liverpool fans, what did you make of the report calling out Firmino’s negative xG discrepancy? Are you concerned by the reduction in his goals tally from previous seasons or does his overall team play compensate for it? Share your views in the comments section below!
