On Roberto Firmino’s time at Liverpool so far and his pivotal role in their future

The signing of Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015 was, in some respects, an out-of-character purchase for Liverpool. Twenty-three years old, a hefty transfer fee, a stellar reputation and seven goals and ten assists in 2014-15 suggested a player of impressive pedigree. Forget astute pick-ups like James Milner or solid, dependable signings like Nathaniel Clyne. This was the real deal: a skilful, productive midfielder/forward whose best years were ahead of him.

The aforementioned description of Firmino represents a signing who was just a little bit different, but also one of whose ilk Liverpool had targeted before, and with positive results to say the least. Similar things could be said about Fernando Torres when he joined in 2007, or of Luis Suarez when he arrived in January 2011 – and look how those two turned out. It was refreshing to see the club target quality and act decisively in the transfer market.

Firmino is a wonderful player – elegant and stylish, but also quick, direct and a good dribbler. Were one to place him in relation to the other members of Liverpool’s attack, Firmino’s closest equivalent would be a hybrid of Adam Lallana and Divock Origi. 11 goals and 8 assists in the campaign so far (9 goals and 7 assists in the Premier League alone, Liverpool’s top scorer) tell only half the story – literally, too, as although Roberto Firmino’s first season has proved encouraging so far, it only really got going just after the halfway mark.

Before that, Firmino only excelled in fits and bursts. The first, most obvious reminder of his talents came at the Etihad Stadium in November: a 1-4 destruction of Manchester City. But for every such performance, there was an equivalent 3-0 defeat to Watford as Liverpool rattled through the first half of the season with some promise but not much consistency.

Much of the same could be said of Firmino. There were flashes and glimpses, but just the one goal in the first half of the season as Jurgen Klopp picked at his squad and tried different combinations. As Firmino did not play in wide positions, his constant placing behind Christian Benteke saw Liverpool regress into something stodgy and mechanical.

What stands out in Firmino’s time with the club so far is that we know exactly when things changed for the better. It was 13 January 2016, and Liverpool were hosting Arsenal. The game was drawn 3-3 and Firmino scored a brace within the first 20 minutes. But more than two rousing goals, it was his deployment that caught the eye.

Jurgen Klopp’s perceptive gambit in playing Firmino as a ‘false nine’ paid off. With the freedom of the central role all his, the Brazilian’s movement and pressing worked a charm. It was the beginning of a recovery.

Firmino’s direct influence on games has improved significantly. His vision, anticipation and intelligence keeps him on the same wavelength as his teammates and Klopp must be awarded credit for harnessing his talent in the best way possible. The German’s high speed, high intensity pressing game also fits Firmino like a glove. Whether at the apex of the attack or just behind it, Firmino understands the pressing demands of the modern game, and he knows how to execute defensive instructions with much greater energy than either Daniel Sturridge or Christian Benteke.

This run to the Europa League final has proved the finest accomplishment of Liverpool’s season. It is their first European final for nine years, and Firmino’s performances and tactical flexibility have been key to getting them there. A goal against Manchester United was the highlight, but the wider implications of Firmino’s fluid yet tenacious style became clear. Although lacklustre in the role against Villarreal in Spain, deploying Firmino as a false nine in Europe could prove useful. Liverpool will be up against rigid defences, and Firmino dropping deeper allows Liverpool to exploit the space between the lines and pack the midfield instead of repeatedly running into the brick walls that are the opposing defenders.

In this time, Firmino has linked up superbly with Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana as well. He is unique, in that Firmino is an individualist capable of leading the line and impacting games by himself while also slotting seamlessly into a team dynamic. He is a double-edged sabre, offering the kinds of qualities that the other members of Liverpool’s attack don’t. Or at least not in the same proportions.

And going beyond that, Firmino is the kind of talismanic player who can energise a team’s cause. In many opponents’ eyes, he is the danger man, a player with a giant, red ‘X’ on his back. No one, not even Daniel Sturridge, courts ‘reducing’ tackles like Firmino could. It may not be apparent right now, for a surge that has seen Liverpool reach two cup finals has come with Sturridge, Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana (besides others such as Milner) shouldering the creative and goal-scoring burden between themselves.

But because Klopp and Firmino understand each other’s method so well, the manager sees the forward as a key part of the club’s future. To become the undisputed boss of Anfield will require Firmino to step up his game and develop consistency. It requires him to become the kind of 15-goal-and-15-assist-a-season player that Liverpool have not had since Steven Gerrard was in his prime.

He certainly has the talent and the manager’s backing for it. While already a pivotal part of the success in Liverpool’s 2015-16 campaign, Firmino can do so much more. The Europa League final on 18 May could prove to be the first milestone in a glittering Liverpool career.