Micah Richards has claimed that the performances of Roberto Firmino have changed after he was ‘off the pace’ in a Liverpool shirt last season, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
The BBC pundit claimed that there has also been ‘pressure’ from Diogo Jota on Firmino and now he is ‘playing really well’.
Firmino produced his best performance in a long while over the weekend when he scored a hat-trick, as Jurgen Klopp’s men demolished Watford 5-0 at Vicarage Road.
Whether it’s Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Jota or Firmino, this Liverpool engine is very hard to stop, as they aren’t just beating teams, they are well and truly turning them over.
Richards was full of praise for Firmino and stated how the Reds are ‘the team to beat’ in the Premier League
“I think Matip has been outstanding,” said Richards. “Firmino deserves a massive mention as well.
“When we talk about the likes of Salah and Mane, getting the goals. Firmino was off-the-pace a bit last season.
“But he has come back this season and he is really playing well, with the pressure of Jota as well.
“Liverpool, at this moment in time, they seem to be the team to beat.”
It was a tough season for Firmino last term, as the £29 million player (BBC Sport) struggled for form throughout the campaign.
But someone like Mane, Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker also had their moments, with injuries and a lack of balance in the side playing its part.
All of that is now behind Liverpool and they are slowly proving to be the top dogs in England’s top-flight again.
Given that Klopp didn’t bring in big names or splash the cash in a crazy manner this summer, they weren’t talked about for the title as much as others.
But, at this moment in time, they are the team to stop and keeping Liverpool’s forward line at bay is proving to be impossible at the moment.
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