Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp heaps praise on ‘very valuable’ Roberto Firmino

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has told the club’s official website that forward Roberto Firmino is a ‘very valuable player’ for his team.

The Brazilian has been in decent form in the early stages of the 2019/20 campaign. In five outings, he has scored two goals and registered three assists.

Firmino signed for Liverpool in 2015 from Hoffenheim for £29 million (BBC Sport). Since arriving at Anfield he has scored 68 goals and registered 50 assists in 198 appearances.

Whilst Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah tend to take the majority of plaudits, Firmino is quietly going about his business.

Klopp is happy with Firmino and has highlighted his importance to the team.

He told the club’s official website: “He’s an incredibly important player. He enjoys it so much to play in this team, to be really there will these super guys around him.

“That’s what helps him then, of course. If you have the speed around you, you can be this little cheeky guy in between the lines, being there and scoring the goals. He’s a very valuable player for us.”

TBR Verdict – Firmino the unsung hero in Liverpool’s majestic front three

With Mane and Salah grabbing all the headlines for the goalscoring prowess, it is perhaps Firmino who is more deserving of the credit.

The Brazilian typically plays in the central role of the three and is, therefore, the one who does the ugly work, so to speak.

Firmino is the one dropping deep, thus allowing space to be created for both Mane and Salah to work their magic and bamboozle the opposition.

Of course, Firmino’s style of play is a joy to watch, but playing that central role is crucial to Klopp’s team being successful.

The fact he weighs in with his fair share of goals and assists as well makes it all the more beneficial for Firmino to be playing through the middle.

Firmino is paid £180,000-a-week (Spotrac) and on current form, he is deserving of every single penny.