According to the latest reports, Liverpool superstar Roberto Firmino could be a perfect fit for La Liga giants Barcelona. This is the opinion of pundit Paul Mariner. The former English superstar has stated that the Brazilian forward could be a ‘perfect’ signing for the Catalonian champions. Liverpool has sent a tremendous message to title rivals Manchester City this season as the Reds currently sit in 2nd place on the League table. In 26 games played so far in England’s top flight, Liverpool has won 20 drawn four and lost just one game so far.
Jurgen Klopp’s outfit looks well refined and set to push Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City for the title this season. Liverpool’s attack is slowly starting to find their fluidity and groove over the past few weeks and with Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson Becker at the back, the Reds look an extremely strong unit in defense as well. Everything is going well for Liverpool at the moment and the fans in the Red half of Merseyside are really looking towards something special at the end of the season.
However, with these impressive displays, there is always going to be an attraction from the elite clubs in Europe who win silverware on a much regular basis. And that is something Liverpool need to be wary of because Barcelona have a history of stealing their key players from the past and now the Catalonians have set their sights on Roberto Firmino.
Barcelona began their poaching from Liverpool when they signed Javier Mascherano earlier in 2010 and then Luis Suarez back in 2014. A year after these superstars joined the Camp Nou outfit, they won the Champions League title with Barcelona and that is something that could lure even Roberto Firmino to the Spanish league. Former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho also joined Barcelona last January and won the La Liga, which goes to show that Barcelona do win trophies on a regular basis and Liverpool don’t.
Firmino joined Liverpool back in 2015 from Bundesliga club Hoffenheim for a transfer fee of £29m and has become an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s side ever since. He has been utilized as a false number nine which allows him to get involved in the buildup play and also score goals on a regular basis. But Firmino does something that keeps Liverpool kicking all the time, he is the heartbeat of the side and is the key man who starts the counter pressing at the top of the pitch.
Very rarely do centre-forward work hard without the ball but Firmino is a thorough exception. The Brazilian attacker has already scored 11 goals this season and has notched up four assists as well. In fact, his work rate and presence on the pitch has been highlighted by many pundits and Paul Mariner believes that the 27-year-old would be perfect for Barcelona.
Speaking to ESPN, the 65-year-old former English international said, The way that they (Barcelona) play, Firmino, I know it will upset all the Liverpool fans. Look at what he does, look at the link ups. He’s fantastic. Firmino for me does it all. He’s tremendous.”
