Jamie Redknapp calls Roberto Firmino the best number nine
According to the Daily Mail (h/t Mirror), Former Liverpool player Jamie Redknapp has praised Roberto Firmino as the perfect No.9 in spite of the player failing to score at Anfield this season.
The Brazilian has amazingly failed to hit the target at home while his teammates Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have scored 10 and 16 goals at Anfield respectively.
Rather than use it as a token for comparison, Redknapp insists that the disparity highlights Firmino’s selfless role as the player who links the Liverpool front three.
Redknapp also praised Mane and Salah, going on to say that their numbers reflect the change in the role of wingers in the modern era. He believes that the wide men today are expected to get into the box and contribute more to goals and assists.
“Firmino comes short for the ball, creates space for others, connects attacks and creates opportunities for his team-mates who love to come inside”
He also touched upon Mane and Salah’s versatility, as the Senegalese won the ball in the middle of the pitch against Bournemouth before laying it off for Salah to equalise. Mane was once more active centrally as he ran onto Virgil van Dijk’s pass to put the Reds ahead.
Describing Firmino as a selfless player who isn’t only focused on scoring goals, Redknapp also claimed that Jurgen Klopp will be very happy with the job the Brazilian number nine is doing.
“He is the focal point of Klopp’s 4-3-3 system.”
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Firmino has scored 10 goals and 12 assists in 42 appearances for Liverpool this season. He scored important goals away at Tottenham, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Southampton, and Chelsea, all of which turned out to be the winners on the night.
