By Daily Sports on December 28, 2019
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted he had never lost faith in Roberto Firmino when the Brazilian was worried by a lack of goals before scoring four in three matches including the Club World Cup final.
Firmino, known affectionately to Klopp as Bobby, met with Klopp after a worrying run of one goal in 16 appearances.
But the German told Firmino he was in the side for more than just his goals, since when he's been on a spree.
Firmino followed up his goals in the semifinal and final of the Club World Cup with a Boxing Day double in the Premier League leaders' 4-0 rout of nearest challengers Leicester City.
His goals against the Foxes led to an embrace with Klopp on the touchline at Leicester's King Power Stadium.
“Journalists told me he hadn’t scored for a while, but the thing about Bobby is that I don't think about scoring,” Klopp explained.
“I think about how important he is, so we had a little talk and I told him. For the first time he was a little bit concerned about that fact (he had not scored in so many games), and I told him I was not interested in that number.
“He is the connector for our team, he is so important for us. He is the only one who can play the position, and he plays the position in a very special way.
“He doesn’t have to come (for a hug) with every goal, but this time we had a little thing where, after being calm enough to leave him on the pitch in games that I never thought about (his lack of goals), he thought he would say thank you.”
Liverpool, bidding to be crowned English champions for the first time in 30 years, are 13 points clear at the top after thrashing Leicester.
They have now extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 35 matches, with Liverpool’s last loss in the top flight a 2-1 defeat by Manchester City on January 3.
Liverpool, who next face Wolves at Anfield on Sunday, are closing in on Arsenal’s all-time top-flight record of 49 unbeaten matches, set from May 2003 to October 2004. (AFP)
•PHOTO: Resurgent Roberto Firmino
Source Daily Sports
Posted December 28, 2019
You may also like...
Super Eagles: From joy to nightmares for Eric...
Fan protests may force me out of Arsenal,...
Oshonaike U-21 Tourney serves off
SHOCKER: Leicester Demolish Manchester City 5-2 at Etihad...
Benin City’s ‘Kante’ expects great things for grassroots...
Wenger Reveals Denying Arsenal Return For Van Persie...

World Cup: Morocco edge Scotland, USA march into last 32, Brazil beat Haiti
AFN shifts Commonwealth Games trials over delayed arrivals
Asaba to host President Federation Cup final
2026 World Cup: Nigerian-American Balogun wins second Man of the Match award
Finalists emerge at 47th CBN Senior Tennis tourney
US waives visa fees for Cape Verde keeper’s mother
World Cup: African teams concede 16 goals, score seven in first round
Eagles must move forward, Osimhen on Mundial miss
Women’s top seed reaches CBN tennis q’finals
Adeshina doubtful for Commonwealth Games
Oshoba, Ibeabuchi, Esepo lead 2026 FGM award nominees
Why I cried after first goal in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria — Messi
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,888 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,215 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,143 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,738 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,628 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,510 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,379 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,916 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,115 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,593 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,058 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,474 views)