Why Roberto Firmino makes Liverpool genuine title contenders

PHILIPPE COUTINHO is arguably the best player in the Premier League right now – but now his compatriot and friend Roberto Firmino is not far behind.

By Chris McKenna                                 

Roberto Firmino has excelled at leading the line for Liverpool so far this season

Brazil ace Coutinho is part of the reason Liverpool are sitting pretty on top of the Premier League table after 11 games.

He has scored five and created another five in his 11 league appearances.

Only Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has made more goals than the Kop forward.

Coutinho is rightly getting the plaudits for such outstanding play but there has never been any real doubt about his class.

He arrived at Anfield in January 2013 and it was not long until the likes of Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge were calling him ‘The Magician’ because of his tricky feet and eye for a pass.

But Firmino is the perfect case study for Liverpool’s rise under Kop boss Jurgen Klopp.

Coutinho remained class even when the Reds were struggling as Brendan Rodgers’ reign came to a disappointing end last year.

He was still scoring goals and creating out of nowhere as the Reds failed to adapt to life after Luis Suarez under the Northern Irishman.

However, Firmino could not dazzle while so many around him were disappointing.

When Firmino arrived from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015 for £29m, there was a buzz about the signing especially since Raheem Sterling was heading for Manchester City at the time.

Michael Edwards, the newly-appointed sporting director, was influential in the acquisition of the player who had been a creative and goalscoring force in the Bundesliga, along with the other members of the so-called transfer committee.

But when he played for Liverpool under Rodgers it just felt like he did not fit in. Firmino looked destined to be a flop.

Philippe Coutinho added another goal and assist against Watford

Jurgen Klopp found a diamond in the rough in Firmino

But then came along Klopp, who was believed to have admired the signing of the Brazil ace while he was enjoying a sabbatical after leaving Borussia Dortmund.

When the German arrived at Anfield, he knew there was a diamond among the squad that needed to be polished.

The process began but, like Klopp’s revolution with the whole Liverpool team, it took time.

Firmino’s performances remained inconsistent until slowly the glimpses of class became more and more regular.

The goals started to come too, with nine league strikes after Christmas.

Now only Sergio Aguero, Diego Costa, Harry Kane and Jermain Defoe have scored more in 2016 after Firmino’s tally of five this term took him to 14 for the calendar year.

Sadio Mane added a double for Liverpool against Watford

Klopp has also got the best out of Firmino’s creativeness – with the best example his cute pass for Sadio Mane’s second in the 6-1 thumping of Watford on Sunday for his fifth assist of the season.

He is now a more favourable No. 9 than Daniel Sturridge and along with Coutinho and £34m signing Sadio Mane, who has scored six and created two, Liverpool have the most exciting front line in the league.

Thanks to goals from 10 other players including Adam Lallana and James Milner, only Burnley and Manchester United have managed to stop Liverpool scoring in the Premier League this season.

That has led to eight wins, two draws and just one defeat with that loss coming back in August against the Clarets on just the second weekend of the season.

They are the form team and there is no doubt they are in the Premier League title race.

And if Firmino’s improvement continues then it will only get harder for the rest to find the solution to stop them.

dailystar.co.uk