Roberto Firmino has become a crucial player in Liverpool’s team, despite initially struggling to hit the ground running when he arrived at Anfield from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015.
The Brazilian was bought by former manager Brendan Rodgers for around £29m, but it is under Jurgen Klopp where he has really thrived in an attacking role.
Last season, Firmino scored 11 goals in all competitions, and he is already halfway to matching that tally having scored seven at the midway stage of the current campaign.
The worry for a lot of English clubs who have top foreign talent is that their stars will one day succumb to the allure of the European giants, namely Barcelona and Real Madrid.
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As it stands, there have been no reports of the Spanish pair sniffing around, and Firmino himself has given Liverpool fans a huge boost by claiming that he sees his long-term future at Anfield. He told the Liverpool Echo:
“I think I have already changed my way of playing. First of all because I was adapted to the European style of football due to playing in Germany with Hoffenheim for three years, but then I had to make another adjustment because English football and the Premier League is much, much faster.
“You really do notice that the pace is very high here but it is a type of football that I enjoy. I am giving my best to the team like all the other players and everyone is happy with the work they are doing. That’s reflected in the football we are producing and the fact that everyone is enjoying themselves. I love playing here and hopefully it is something I can continue to do for many years.”
The importance of Firmino to Klopp’s team has been evident this season as the Brazilian has played in all but one of the Reds’ league fixtures.
He is also regularly preferred to Daniel Sturridge as a focal point of the team’s attack, but the 25-year-old works hard away from the ball as well, linking up with his teammates and bagging three assists in the league so far.
Liverpool currently sit second in the league table, five points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
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