It’s been a pretty difficult season for Roberto Firmino at Liverpool.
The Brazil international, a £29 million signing in 2015, spent the first half of the campaign being swapped with new signing Diogo Jota, prior to the latter’s injury in December.
And on the goal front, Firmino isn’t exactly doing his utmost to make sure Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp sticks with him up front when Jota is fit again.
The former Hoffenheim hitman has only managed six goals in 35 games across all competitions so far this season which, for an attacking player, just isn’t going to cut it.
This has led to criticism from some sections of the Liverpool fanbase, particularly with Klopp’s side languishing 19 points behind Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table this season.
But one huge fan of Firmino is team-mate Sadio Mane, who claims that he and Mo Salah simply wouldn’t score the volume of goals that they do if not for the South American’s class.
He told ESPN Brasil: “He deserves more credit than me and Mo, for sure. But it is part of football, (people) always seeing the goals scored. But without Bobby, I don’t see me and Mo score as many goals as we have, to be honest.
“He makes everything easier for us. Brazil are just lucky to have Firmino. I have always said to Bobby: ‘You will have to change your nationality and come to Senegal’. For me, that would be a dream. I just love him. I think he is my favourite team-mate.”
Firmino’s quality has never been in question, nor has his ability to create chances for Mane and Salah.
But we’re talking about a player who scored 27 goals during the 2017-18 campaign and Salah and Mane were by his side back then too, so the drop-off in goals has just been staggering these past few years and until he finds his shooting boots, he might remain a divisive player.
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