Thiago Silva has named Liverpool star Roberto Firmino as the most difficult player that he has ever faced.
Firmino is a very popular figure among fans of the reigning Premier League champions, but one criticism has been his output.
The 29-year-old has only managed six goals in 37 games for Liverpool across all competitions this season, as well as 12 in 52 outings last term.
For a central attacking player under Jurgen Klopp, Firmino, a £29 million signing in 2015, certainly isn’t productive enough.
But Silva, who joined Chelsea last summer, has lavished praise on his fellow Brazil international, claiming that he has ‘incredible technical quality’.
He told Chelsea TV when asked how his toughest opponent has been: “Firmino, he has incredible technical quality. He is very intelligent in his movements [on the pitch] that leaves defenders a bit lost.”
It’s very possible that the former Hoffenheim attacker is about to get dropped for Diogo Jota.
The Portuguese star started the midweek Champions League win over Leipzig and although Firmino was absent through injury that night, Jota was already benching him prior to being ruled out for three months in December.
If Firmino and Jota are both available, it’s likely that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will favour the latter from here on in.
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