Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino is one of the most intelligent players Ally McCoist has seen in a very long time.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, the former Rangers man waxed lyrical about Firmino after he took his old club apart last night.
Firmino is one of the most intelligent footballers I’ve seen in a long time,” gushed McCoist after Bobby scored a brace in Liverpool’s 7-1 win. “His game awareness and his game intelligence is absolutely second to none.
“Great footballer. Quick feet, good in the air, but he’s intelligent, he sees it. He knows where to go, drops into pockets, knows when to go up in a forward position, can pass the ball. I think he’s a very, very clever player.”
Firmino was at his absolute best last night as he continued his hot streak in-front of goal. Eight goals in 12 games makes him Liverpool’s joint top-scorer this season.
Firmino shines in the shade
It’s great to hear Firmino getting his dues in the press. As the beating heart of Liverpool’s fabled front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, he was often left in the shadow of his two more prolific teammates.
Perhaps it was fitting then, that Salah ultimately stole the limelight from his brilliant display last night.
The Egyptian’s record-breaking hat-trick has claimed the headlines and probably deservedly so. But it was Firmino who dragged Liverpool back into the game after they fell behind early on.
Not that Bobby will mind. The unselfishness in his rabona assist for Darwin Nunez tells you everything you need to know about this most generous of team players.
And the truth is that Liverpool couldn’t have done without him this season. His return to full fitness and form has been incredibly timely. It doesn’t bare thinking about where the Reds would be without his goals.
In fact, it doesn’t bare thinking about where Liverpool would be without Firmino full-stop.
Unfortunately, that’s something they may know the answer to in the coming months. With his contract running out in June, there appears to be no extension on the horizon for the 31-year-old.
In fairness to Firmino, he really couldn’t be doing much more to earn one, though. With a World Cup place no doubt at the front of his mind too, Liverpool are seeing the benefits of full determination from their No.9. Keep it up and neither Tite nor Julian Ward will be able to ignore his claims.
