Roberto Firmino's return to form has been one of the brightest parts of Liverpool's excellent season to this point, with Jurgen Klopp even going as far as to say people will write books about how the former Hoffenheim star plays in the false nine role.
In nine matches for Liverpool this term, Firmino has scored six goals and contributed one assist, and he was in imperious form during the 5-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, causing Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire all kinds of problems with his movement off the ball.
"Bobby played remarkably well again," Klopp detailed in his post-match press conference.
"I'm sure people will write books about how he interprets the false nine positions.
"I won't say he invented it, but the way he plays, from time to time it looks that way, some of the defensive things he did on the pitch are absolutely insane, Bobby knows how much we appreciate what he is doing."
Firmino has always been the glue of Liverpool's front three since the Klopp era began to hit its stride on Merseyside, however he sometimes gets less credit than he deserves because of the modest goalscoring return he brings.
Over the course of five seasons in which he has been playing alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, the Brazilian has scored just 70 goals, which is far lower than the 140 of Salah and 90 of Mane.
However, he improves the performances of his teammates with his work and he makes chances for them, and it's worth noting that in every season with Liverpool he has scored at least 10 goals.
His hat-trick against Watford was just the second he has scored for Liverpool, with the other coming against Arsenal in December of 2018 and he is well on course to eclipse his goal tally of nine league goals from 2020/21.
Desmondeyum
206
If you watch the game, you don't see Roberto Firmino . If you watch Roberto Firmino, you see the WHOLE game π
danmusa015
93
Come Saturday, history would be made. The first ever Sacking derbyπππππππ
yetbceinuy
27
What's new... Everything Pep does, Klopp is so desperate to copy. Pep Guardiola is First & Only manager in Football history to invent False 9 since Barcelona time. Now klopp wanna take credit through Firmino... First klopp copy Pep & start playing from Back.... Which now 18 out of 20 teams does anyways Now he wants to get credit for False 9 F...... desperate
Benjo22
12
If you watch the game, you don't see Roberto Firmino . If you watch Roberto Firmino, you see the WHOLE game π
[image]
Copied from what someone had said about Segio Busquet.
catbcrtuz
9
What's new... Everything Pep does, Klopp is so desperate to copy. Pep Guardiola is First & Only manager in Football history to invent False 9 since Barcelona time. Now klopp wanna take credit through Firmino... First klopp copy Pep & start playing from Back.... Which now 18 out of 20 teams does anyways Now he wants to get credit for False 9 F...... desperate
you must be dull. did Klopp claim he invented the false 9. Read and understand or get back to school dude. it sickens me when one doesn't understand a simple article
Mariosuarez2
8
No false 9 will come close to Lionel Messi false 9
Jabbklopsu
8
What's new... Everything Pep does, Klopp is so desperate to copy. Pep Guardiola is First & Only manager in Football history to invent False 9 since Barcelona time. Now klopp wanna take credit through Firmino... First klopp copy Pep & start playing from Back.... Which now 18 out of 20 teams does anyways Now he wants to get credit for False 9 F...... desperate
what's wrong with this young man city fan when did u born stop talk foolishness to my ears boy that invent longtime ago before pep even start playing football muchless coaching ok boy false number 9 was invent longtime ago so stop u nonsense young man try to give credit to some one who don't even knw when false 9 was invented