Gary Neville hails Roberto Firmino, wants Son Heung-min at United

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Manchester United saw Marcus Rashford score against Liverpool on Sunday.

Pundit Gary Neville has told Sky Sports that Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino is an example of a forward who doesn’t necessarily score plenty of goals, but fits his team’s system perfectly.

Liverpool made the short trip to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, taking on Manchester United as the two bitter enemies renewed their rivalry once again.

United took a first-half lead through Marcus Rashford, admittedly through controversial circumstances, as VAR strangely chose not to penalise Victor Lindelof for what looked like a foul on Divock Origi.

Liverpool did grab a point late on as Adam Lallana found an equaliser, but they really weren’t at their best against a United side struggling of late.

One big problem for United has been their lack of goals, but Rashford showed the movement of a real centre forward to score his goal, lulling Joel Matip towards the near post before darting away and creating room to score.

There are still major questions about Rashford’s suitability as United’s leading striker moving forward, and this became a hot topic in the Sky Sports studio after the game.

Graeme Souness suggested that United need to find a goalscorer from anywhere, but Neville thinks the Red Devils need to find a specific striker who fits Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s approach, rather than just anybody who can score.

Neville highlighted that Roberto Firmino is the perfect example, as he isn’t exactly a 25-goal-a-season striker, but he’s the ideal player for Jurgen Klopp’s setup at Liverpool, even admitting that he loves the Brazilian to bits.

Neville added that he’d love a player like Firmino at United, and would even want the club to sign Tottenham star Son Heung-min, who cost just £22million four years ago (BBC), as they’re the type of mobile, creative forwards that Solskjaer is really seeking rather than a traditional centre forward.

“Liverpool play with three mobile strikers, Firmino doesn’t score 25 goals every year, but he does an unbelievable job,” said Neville. “I love him to bits, but he doesn’t score 25 goals. You can still win without a striker who scores 25-30 goals.”

“I’d like Firmino, he doesn’t score 25 goals, I’d like Firmino at Manchester United. I’d like Son from Tottenham. I think United want a striker like Firmino, like Son at Tottenham, that type of player, I don’t think he wants a typical striker,” he added.