Liverpool attacker Roberto Firmino has been asked to train away from the rest of the first team players as Klopp wants the Brazilian to be in top condition in the final stretch of the season. Klopp’s Liverpool are in a 4-horse race for the 3rd and 4th positions in the league, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal fighting them for the same positions.
The Brazilian has burst into life in recent weeks exactly when his side needed him to as the Reds chase Champions League football next season. Firmino has scored two winners in a row after handing Liverpool all three points with strikes against Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion and Mark Hughes’ Stoke City. But Jurgen Klopp and his medical staff are worried that 25-year old Firmino has been overworked and is in the precarious red zone for picking up a muscle injury. An injury at this time of the season is the last thing Klopp needs.
Firmino has missed just two league games this season. He has juggled between his club responsibilities and national duty, traveling to South America to play for Brazil in an admirable fashion. Klopp benched Firmino for the Stoke game as a result of fatigue and has been keeping the attacker away from his other team-mates in training. Firmino has not been taking part in full training and did yoga and stretches by himself on Wednesday ahead of the Crystal Palace home game on Sunday.
The rest of the Liverpool squad were put through their paces with rigorous training drills while Firmino did a much lighter session, according to The Mirror.
“It’s been a very difficult week, with Roberto especially because we really need to be careful with him,” Klopp said.
“He’s our all-time player, he plays nearly each game. I think we did well with it in the week and having him back together with Phil (Coutinho), of course, is very important for us.”
Considering the 11 goals and 6 assists he has provided in the league this season for Liverpool, you cannot deny the Brazilian’s importance to the Reds. Kopites will be hoping for Firmino to be in the best shape possible as they dream of a return to European club football’s biggest competition.
