According to former Liverpool forward Peter Crouch, the player that makes the current Liverpool team “tick” is Roberto Firmino.
Defensively all the plaudits go to either Virgil van Dijk or Alisson Becker.
In terms of attack, everyone talks about Salah and Mane.
But as far as Crouch is concerned, without the 28-year-old Brazillian, Liverpool just isn’t th same team.
Very little works as effectively s it could without Firmino.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Crouch believes Liverpool’s number nine is the player to watch.
He said:
“Some critics will argue that Liverpool’s Brazilian showboats when he does these skills but you need to watch him closely.”
“He never does a stepover on the halfway line or a rainbow flick by his own goal to show off.”
“He does everything in dangerous areas to create chances.”
Crouch would have loved the opportunity to partner a player like Firmino.
He added:
“What I would have done to play alongside Firmino.”
“If I was a manager, Mo Salah would be the one member of Liverpool’s front three that I could not do without.”
“I have huge respect for Mane, too, but from a striker’s point of view, Firmino would be the dream partner.”
Firmino is up there with the best when it comes to real number nines.
He continued:
“I hate the term ‘false nine’ – I was an actual No. 9 and proud of it!”
“But Firmino plays this position better than anyone in the Premier League.”
“The reason Salah and Mane’s goal returns are going through the roof is because they have such an unselfish partner alongside.”
“Firmino was nominated for the Ballon d’Or this week and he deserves to be in that category.”
Liverpool just is not Liverpool without Firmino.
Crouch concluded:
“I recently heard a quote that I loved.”
“If you watch the game you don’t see Firmino. If you watch Firmino you see the whole game. Poetry.”
“He is the man who makes Liverpool tick. He is a genius.”
While he is not Liverpool’s most prolific striker in terms of goals, he has scored three and has eight assists.
How many other goals has his off the ball movement created too?
Roberto Firmino is the maestro of Merseyside!
