Liverpool carried on their unbeaten run in the Champions League, edging past Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid with a 3-2 win at the Wanda Metropolitano to take them top of Group B with three wins from as many games at the halfway stage, and while there were plenty of talking points from the thrilling match, the fact that it was Roberto Firmino’s 300th game for the Reds seemed to slip under the radar somewhat.
‘Bobby Dazzler’, as he is lovingly known by the Anfield faithful, was brought to Merseyside from German Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for around £30 million by then Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers back in 2015, but with the Northern Irishman sacked shortly after, it is under Jürgen Klopp that the Brazilian has truly dazzled the Anfield crowd and helped make the Reds more favourable in the UK sports betting karamba.com.
After rather average goalscoring figures in his first two seasons, just about clawing in to the double figures, Firmino really left his mark in the 2017-18 season. The 30-year-old racked up 27 goals in 54 games, 15 of which were in the Premier League as Liverpool secured a top four finish, while he also notched 11 times in the Champions League, helping Liverpool reach the final for the first time since 2006 — where they were subsequently beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid.
His fine goalscoring form carried into the following season as well. He scored 16 times in 48 outing for Liverpool — averaging a goal every three games — spurring the Reds on to their sixth European Cup triumph as they beat their Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the 2019 Champions League final at the Wanda Metropolitano.
However, goals were few and far between for Firmino over the course of the last two seasons. He found the back of the net just nine times in 38 Premier League outings as Liverpool won the title for the first time in 30 years and he couldn’t fare any better last year, once again failing to get into double figures in terms of league goals.
In the Brazilian’s defence, he has taken up a slightly different role — one where he is seen more as the architect, or a ‘defensive forward’ as the Liverpool fans would say, making more space and creating an abundance of chances for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané to sweep in and grab the crucial goals for Klopp’s side.
Even in that role, there have been frustrating times for Firmino, especially during Liverpool’s out-of-nature slump during last year’s festive period, and at times, whether justified or not, many have ruled him out and written him off. However, this season he is showing that that dazzle and inner sparkle is still there, and Diego Jota, who many claimed was signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers to be his replacement, has had to watch on from the sidelines.
Firmino has four goals in six Premier League games this campaign, three of which came in the recent visit to the Vicarage Road when Liverpool beat Watford 5-0 in what was another landmark match for Firmino — his 250th start for the club — while he has two goals in two Champions League matches, both of which came against Porto in the 5-1 win at the Estádio do Dragão.
It is great to see Firmino back at his best after a couple of tough seasons. From a time when many doubted if he would even reach 300 games for Liverpool, a feat that is incredibly rare for overseas players, to where he is today is credit to him as a player. He will go down in history as a Liverpool great and the love that the passionate Reds have for him will burn for years and years. Here’s to many more appearances!
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