NewsLiverpool's Greatest - No.22: Roberto Firmino
Years: 2015-2023
Appearances: 362
Goals: 111
Trophies: Champions League (2019), UEFA Super Cup (2019), FIFA Club World Cup (2019), Premier League (2019-20), League Cup (2022), FA Cup (2022)
Roberto Firmino’s brilliant blend of talent and work-rate made him beloved to Liverpool supporters.
‘Bobby’ regularly wowed Kopites with his Brazilian flair but also earned just as many rapturous receptions for his work without the ball.
His eight seasons as a Red were littered with goals, jaw-dropping skills, trophies and smiles.
Liverpool won the competition for his signature from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015, though it was when Jürgen Klopp took charge later that year that he began to flourish on Merseyside.
Firmino was deployed in a unique centre-forward role that many other sides looked to reproduce but could never totally replicate.
The team’s ‘heart and soul’, as described by Klopp, would take his game to a whole new level when joined by Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
That much-feared attacking trio conquered English, European and world football, with Firmino’s ability, industry and selflessness central to it.
He offered the unexpected and sometimes never-seen-before; from no-look finishes to back-heels, dinks, flicks and turns.
Firmino was the man who ensured Liverpool became FIFA Club World Cup champions for the first time in history in 2019, scoring in the semi-final and the only goal of the final in Qatar.
It was one of six major honours he lifted as a Red – including the Champions League in 2019 and Premier League in 2019-20.
His craft saw him recognised by supporters with the creation of the extremely popular and catchy ‘Si Senor’ chant, of which renditions would go on and on and on – just like the player himself.
Having served early notice of his intention for a new challenge, there was something that the Kop wanted him to know in the remainder of 2022-23.
‘The best in the world’, as the chant went, was showered with appreciation for all he had done and given.
Firmino reflected: “In the beginning when I arrived it was hard to adapt to the climate, the football, everything. As for every player, it’s the same.
“But thank you God, we achieved everything here, we won everything together. Without my teammates, my family, the manager, you cannot do this. I’m very proud of the history, for everything we achieved together.”
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