Roberto Firmino nabbed his ninth goal of the season after coming off the bench during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Arsenal on Wednesday. Ryan Babel, Ian Wright and other Liverpool players praised the Brazilian on Instagram.
Liverpool came into the game having won their previous eight Premier League matches. Firmino, 30, was on the bench after an injury – an unused substitute in the previous match against Brighton, resulting in a 2-0 win.
He came off the bench against Arsenal, just seconds after Diogo Jota had opened the scoring after a delightful pass from Thiago – and a mistake from Aaron Ramsdale. He was instantly replaced by Firmino.
A slightly despondent Jota sat on the bench but it was a move from Jurgen Klopp that paid off – Firmino delightfully finishing from an Andy Robertson cross. The Brazilian posted on Instagram after the 2-0 win.
Babel, Wright react: Firmino still shows he is crucial for Liverpool
It is an interesting one, is Firmino’s future. Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Firmino are all about to enter the final year of their Liverpool contracts. All the chat has been about extending Salah’s deal.
Little has been made of Mane’s future, and nothing of Firmino. But the forward is still just as crucial to Liverpool off the bench and behind Jota, as he was when part of the lethal front three that won the 19-20 title.
Firmino remains crucial and just reminded Klopp and Liverpool fans of how important he is to the Merseyside outfit on Wednesday night. He earned praise from Babel, Wright, Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz.
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