Dont like seeing those two on an old legend list; I grew up with them playing for us. Last night I slept funny and now my neck hurts. Am I getting old?
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I don’t agree with Klopp that Firmino was better than Mane or Salah (world class everyday etc) and I don’t think Klopp really believes that either. This is the third season on the bounce Firmino hasn’t been a guaranteed starter, but Mane and Salah would never be dropped and they’ve formed good partnerships with other forwards in Firmino’s absence. There’s no shame in being in their shadow a little bit and I fully understand why Klopp always went out of his way to praise Bobby.
Still, Firmino has been a fantastic player for us and one of the cornerstones of our success under Klopp. His first big performance for Liverpool came away at the Etihad in that 4-1 win, linking up with Coutinho and Lallana brilliantly to destroy them at their own place.
Villareal at Anfield in the EL and Arsenal in the league stand out as his two best performances in a red shirt.
If there’s one moment that encapsulates Firmino’s time at Liverpool it’s this one against Stoke. No wonder his teammates loved him so much.
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I had a slightly different reading of that.
I thought as it dropped to Firmino he glanced back at Mane, who gave him an absolute death stare, and Bobby wisely opted to leave it.
That clip is in slow motion mate
Ha ha. But I meant I remembered it at the time.
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Easy Le ge nd
David Pleats inability to pronounce foreign players names, and his clear disinterest in learning, comes to mind. Yossi Benyanoon being a memorable example.
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Lose that tash Bobby
He’s having to move, for a bigger house…
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No wonder he’s injured recently, no recovery time, always making babies lol
Congratz to all
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Bobby’s been a very successful story.
Not sure if I’d call him the symbol player under Klopp at Liverpool (I think that’s more Hendo to be perfectly honest, both as a combination of player and the person), but he was so important, key in all phases of the game.
I’m not going to go back to his few games under Rodgers, but when Klopp came in you immediately saw the quality he could provide centrally.
I had him as a success already by the end of his first season. The only thing which was needed was more consistency. Both from action to action during the game and from game by game.
Back then, mostly playing second striker with either Sturridge or Origi, he could be frustrating to watch. Good piece of action, then just moments later give easy balls away. A bit like Luis Garcia (not comparing them as players, different, but that tendency was similar). He also had hot days and colder days.
Not gonna lie I was a bit skeptical when we opted to play him central in 16/17 and not sign a new main striker. Mane was basically the only speedy player we had left and he played mainly off the right in that season. Still, Bobby proved he could do it.
Then his 3rd season arrives and that’s when his numbers went through the roof, though that proved to be the exception, not his norm. Also proved himself at a bigger stage in the CL. That was the birth of one of the best attacks in modern football. That was when it all clicked, having two very direct players around him.
Numbers wise, I always thought and hoped he could hit around 15 per season in all competitions. I thought that should be his motivation, that it was fair to expect even considering he played in a different way to Salah and Mane.
But overall, it’s really fine for a player who is really a mixture of an attacking midfielder and a forward. Assists are good and combination play there’s no need to mention how good he is. Not quite Benzema-good (and even he took time to become that player), but very high. Maybe the best linking forward we had since Kenny and maybe Beardsley? Litmanen was of that type also, but wasn’t here long enough.
You don’t get a lot of players like him. He’s not a #9, he’s not a lazy #10, he’s a bit too slow to play wide, he’s also not someone who you’d trust playing regularly as an offensive #8 (there were calls for that from time to time, but I never liked it).
Basically a second striker on paper (then it depends how you use him in different structures and partnerships), who is active in all phases of the game, unselfish and will get you 1 goal in 3 (not strikerish enough to be a 1 in 2), but then with assists and linking the game, the package is really important.
Like with Mane, it’s been a pleasure. They came in, improved together with the team, were highly successful, basically no mistakes in behaviour and they leave with positive feelings.
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my love for Bobby grew exponentially when he offered to autograph any of his #11 jerseys, at the time he changed kit numbers. But no denying his quality. I wish he’d stay another two years.
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Leaving or not he should be seeing some significant game time for the rest of the season. If we want a false 9 on the pitch, Firmino should not be starting on the bench.
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Yeah, I don’t give a damn which players are going to improve our performance and chances for points in the remaining games. If that’s a few who will leave this summer, so be it, play them. This is the priority now.
Firmino should be offered another 2 years, Jota sold. Bobby clutch once again
Inclined to agree, If we get 50-60m for Jota after the season he’s had then surely you’d think we’d accept. Bobby used sparingly still has a lot left to give as we’ve seen this season.