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It is arguably the most celebrated attack trio in Premier League history, the attack force that shot Liverpool to become European and world champions and scared Pep Guardiola in the process. But it did not happen overnight. This is how Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah arrived in Anfield, starting with the transfer that surprised at least one person …
It is the summer of 2015, and Jurgen Klopp simply cannot believe what Liverpool is doing.
Enjoying a gap year in his German homeland, having asked for time during a seven-year period in charge at Borussia Dortmund, Klopp saw a newspaper article.
In England, the Reds had signed Roberto Firmino of Hoffenheim in a deal that could cost them up to £ 29 million.
“He was a player who I thought was one of the best in the Bundesliga,” said Klopp. “So when I saw that Liverpool had signed him, I thought, ‘How could Liverpool do this?’
“They weren’t at their best at 100% and other clubs would have spent more on it. Then I immediately thought “What a good transfer for them”.
“I felt that the clubs would have paid a lot more for him. From his first day (at Hoffenheim), everyone could see that he would be a very, very good player, and when Liverpool took him, I thought they had made a good decision. “
After having struggled the previous year with his recruitment following Luis Suarez’s departure, Liverpool had gone to the extra yard to make sure Firmino signed on the dotted line.
With Firmino tempted by the possibility of joining compatriot Philippe Coutinho in Anfield, Reds chief executive Ian Ayre, no doubt aware of previous failures in concluding possible transfers, had flown to Santiago, where Brazil was preparing to a quarterfinal of the Copa América against Paraguay, to get things done.
Ayre returned from Chile with an orderly agreement and personal terms agreed with Firmino on a five-year contract. But instead of being a cause for joy, behind the scenes, the Brazilian unintentionally found himself at the center of a long power struggle between manager Brendan Rodgers and the club’s transfer committee.
Rodgers, unhappy at having been persuaded to sign Mario Balotelli the year before against his better judgment, agreed to Firmino’s signing, as long as he bought Christian Benteke, his preferred target for large amounts of money.
Benteke came in for £ 32.5 million a fortnight later, making sure Firmino was only briefly Liverpool’s second most expensive signing, the Belgian took the number nine jersey. Firmino assumed number 11 of Oussama Assaidi’s departure.
“He is a first-class player,” said Rodgers. “He has all the traits and profile of what we would like as a player: he works very, very hard, he is a talented player and someone we believe can score goals for the team.”
“Of course, there is no pressure. It just takes a little time to adjust. ”
However, from the beginning, it was clear that Rodgers really didn’t know what was the best way to employ Firmino while also seeking to use Benteke as a target man.
After two brief appearances as a substitute, the Brazilian started four consecutive Premier League games on the right flank, neither of which he won, and was left out with a back injury when Rodgers was fired hours after a 1-1 draw. in Everton.
Enter Klopp. And if Firmino had been a ‘good transfer’ before, it was about to become a great transfer.
“It was a short period (with Rodgers), but I considered him a great coach, although I didn’t have much playing time with him,” said Firmino.
“When the results do not come, it is essential to change managers.
“I think Klopp has the typical German mindset. I like his German methods, he concentrates and focuses on what he wants. I think it will help us. Bring good vibes.
Klopp was equally encouraged. “I didn’t know him as a person before coming here, but I knew him and liked him as a player and he’s still not 100% where he can go, not even close,” he said. “We spoke at first and it showed from his face that he is eager to work together. There is much to come and it is a good situation for the club ”.
The first task was to find the best Firmino position. A trip to Chelsea was on the horizon and the new Liverpool boss was asked what he could do with the enigmatic striker.
“The last time with Brazil he played like nine,” said Klopp. “Usually he plays in the offensive midfield or second striker or comes from the wing, but he can play in the center.”
Sure enough, Firmino was the center forward at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea was unable to cope with his move. He put in an assist for Philippe Coutinho before Benteke entered to seal a 3-1 victory.
It was the same story at Etihad a few weeks later, Firmino with his first goal at Liverpool and two more assists as Manchester City went 4-1, but outings on paper were oddities with Benteke leading the charge.
Things changed after a sad 2-0 loss at West Ham United in January 2016, where Firmino had played in an attacking position in midfield behind Benteke. In the next Premier League home game against Arsenal, the Brazilian returned to number nine and scored twice before Benteke, again released in the second half, put a late draw for Joe Allen in a 3-3 draw. .
Firmino scored another three goals and provided two assists in his next four starts in the position before Daniel Sturridge’s return and the form of Divock Origi saw him drift away from being the attacking spearhead, playing role nine only once more in that campaign.
In fact, in the last six draws of the Europa League that season, Firmino, who had scored against Kop in the last 16 win over Manchester United, played in five different positions, his versatility being a blessing for the team but a slight one. curse on her tries to show her true worth.
While the final in Basel was a low point, the Brazilian was ineffective, seeing a penalty kick rejected after a handball from Sevilla player Daniel Carrico and replaced midway through the second half when Liverpool stumbled on a sad 3-1 setback , the second semifinal The victory at home in Villarreal offered the perfect showcase for their talents.
Firmino forced a own goal from Bruno Soriano and then created the second for Sturridge. However, it was a skill that left Roberto Soldado confused on the sideline by which the Brazilian is best remembered that night, the kind of audacity and execution that helped conquer the remaining skeptics in the stands.
At the end of his debut campaign at Anfield, 11 goals and 11 assists in 49 appearances underscored why he became Liverpool’s most used player under Klopp.
“I don’t think it is possible that anyone can get more credit, praise, praise, whatever you want to say while Roberto receives from us,” said the Reds boss.
“You see him in training and you think ‘what work ethic, what attitude’, and he also puts it on the field. He never rests. You have to get him out, you have to say ‘come on, stop, sit here, take it easy’.
“It is good to have him close, better to have him than in the other team. That’s perhaps the best thing you can say about a soccer player. “
However, what Firmino was not was a striker with an explosive rhythm and strength that could terrify opposing defenses. Fortunately, Klopp had the right man in mind, and one he had let slip through his fingers once before.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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