Liverpool August squad rankings: Sturridge falls, Mane rises
By Tom Bogert
3. Roberto Fimino (down one place)
This is an early leader for favorite individual picture of the year. Lot of football left to play, though.
Firmino is the king of appearing to do nothing while doing everything. The only thing you may remember about his match against Tottenham was that he was clumsily taken down by Erik Lamela for a penalty. That’s nice, but it seemed more of a mistake by Lamela than positive from Firmino.
The 10 seconds prior to Firmino’s heel being clicked by the winger was too easily forgotten. He did well to win a throw in, then keep possession before expertly getting to the endline past Lamela then put himself in front of the winger looking to rectify a mistake. Fantastic.
Earlier than that, thanks to Coutinho scuffing a chance, you’re forgiven if you’ve forgotten that he rolled the ball on a platter for his compatriot to score.
Firmino marauds the pitch at a pace somewhere between a jog and a sprint seemingly at all times. He’s liable to be anywhere past the midfield stripe– left, right, center, deep, shallow. He’s everywhere. His only problem is that he’s not all so great at playing wide which helps cause the Sturridge conundrum.
Other than that, he’s class. Any analyst who tells you different, or that he’s inconsistent, doesn’t watch Liverpool games, they just breeze over match highlights.
Next: 2. Sadio Mane