‘Now doing that’: Gary Neville claims Cristiano Ronaldo has helped transform two of Liverpool’s players

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Gary Neville believes Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have had a clear influence at Liverpool. The Reds boast stars following in their footsteps.

Liverpool have had a lot of success over the last few years and one area of the team has held onto the spotlight. Their front-three of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah deliver consistently against all opposition.

But it’s not a ‘conventional’ forward line. The centre-forward, Firmino, is more of a midfielder and the goal-threat undoubtedly comes from the wide areas. For that, Gary Neville believes Liverpool can thank Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

“[Ronaldo and Messi] have not been traditional centre-forwards, which makes the numbers they have hit even more incredible,” Neville told Sky Sports. “Purely on goals, Ronaldo and Messi have redefined football.

“Ordinarily the biggest goalscorers in a team have been centre-forwards, wide players were there to assist and cross, but they have redefined how we see the wide striker in football, and the wide striker can now be a 30, 40 goals a season machine.

“Salah and Mane are now doing that at Liverpool, Sterling at Manchester City – they are scoring a load of goals from the wide striker position, and that is all because Ronaldo and Messi have set that expectation at that level.”

The Cristiano Ronaldo effect at Liverpool

Neville is correct, to an extent. Ronaldo and Messi unquestionably changed the shape of football by delivering so consistently from the wide positions. Liverpool, along with others, took that on and built their attack in the same way.

But it’s not as clear-cut as that. In fact, there’s another side to Messi, in particular, that influenced things at Liverpool – the False 9 role.

Pep Guardiola’s decision to move his Argentine inside as a playmaker was revolutionary. No, he was far from the first manager to see that move but he was the first in the modern game to use the role as a way to get direct wingers in behind.

Liverpool really have followed in those footsteps. Firmino, after all, drops deep into midfield when at his best. He leaves space for Salah and Mané, while bolstering the midfield possession game.

Combined, you see the influence of Ronaldo and Messi. Liverpool can’t boast anyone delivering their numbers – then, no one can – but the style of play is unquestionably there.