{"id":1187408,"date":"2021-01-28T09:36:52","date_gmt":"2021-01-28T09:36:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1187408"},"modified":"2021-01-28T09:36:52","modified_gmt":"2021-01-28T09:36:52","slug":"roberto-firmino-holds-key-liverpools-resurrection","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/roberto-firmino-holds-key-liverpools-resurrection\/","title":{"rendered":"Roberto Firmino holds the key to Liverpool’s resurrection"},"content":{"rendered":"

By now everyone is well aware that Liverpool are going through a very rough patch of form.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After devastating Crystal Palace 7-0 at Selhurst Park just before Christmas, their post-festive offerings haven’t been nearly as jolly. They’ve won just one game since Christmas, an FA Cup tie against what amounted to an Aston Villa reserve side. Excluding that, Liverpool have played six games, drawn three, lost three and scored just three goals.<\/p>\n

That’s right, three goals in six games. In the Premier League they’ve failed to score in four consecutive matches, a run of form that has seen them fall off the top of the table all the way down to fourth. They’re six points behind league leaders Manchester United, and if Manchester City win their game in-hand and go top the Reds will be seven points<\/em> off the top.<\/p>\n

It’s pure misery, and while many Liverpool fans would be inclined to despair, hope exists in the form of one of their forwards.<\/p>\n

No, not Mohamed Salah or Sadio Man\u00e9. Those two are still goalscorers; they’ve bagged six of the seven goals Liverpool have scored since Christmas. They haven’t been as prolific as they should be, but they’ve been about.<\/p>\n

Roberto Firmino is the key. He’s always been the key.<\/p>\n

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    Once labelled by Klopp as the only one of his famed attacking trio who was “always world-class” the Brazilian has had a difficult time this season, especially lately where he has looked disconnected; his performance against Man Utd at Anfield was legendarily bad.<\/p>\n

    Firmino famously didn’t score a goal at Anfield until the last game of the season in 2019\/20, and while he’s already done that this season he’s still got only five goals. But goals aren’t why Firmino is so important, though they obviously help.<\/p>\n

    No, Firmino’s quality is his link-play. The real reason why he is “always world-class” is because when the ball finds him in the final third his anticipation of both the defenders movements as well as those of his team-mates allow him to, when at his best, do some absolutely outrageous things. Flicks, backheels and passes all while looking somewhere else beyond where the ball is going.<\/p>\n

    The Brazilian was a purely magical player, and still can be. Liverpool’s loss at Old Trafford, while a disappointing result that saw them eliminated from the FA Cup, illustrated Firmino’s brilliance quite perfectly.<\/p>\n

    Yes, Mohamed Salah scored both of Liverpool’s goals but both passes into him came courtesy of Firmino. Two absolutely stunning passes displaying the depth of Firmino’s creative perception and power. Those two passes were the only times Liverpool truly cut United open and created good chances for Salah, which is exactly why Firmino is so important.<\/p>\n

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    Roberto Firmino<\/strong><\/h2>\n