BBC pundit Pat Nevin has claimed that he would pay to watch Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino play every week.
Commentating for BBC 5 Live via the Liverpool Echo last night, Nevin said he’d rather watch Firmino than Darwin Nunez or Mohamed Salah.
“West Ham got the penalty kick so they know they can create chances. Then they got a chance from the corner kick as well. It would have been grotesquely unfair if Liverpool had been level at half-time because they played really well there,” said the pundit, speaking at the end of the first half.
“Nunez caught the eye with a goal and the two chances that he had. Salah looks good but Firmino… I would pay to watch that every week. He was superb.”
The show goes on for Firmino
Last night was actually one of Firmino’s more subdued performances of recent weeks. The Brazilian wasn’t quite as involved as he has been and also missed a couple of decent chances.
Nevertheless, he kept things ticking over, started some attacks from deep and allowed his fellow forwards to roam free. Classic Firmino.
In this new-look Liverpool formation, Bobby isn’t quite operating in his quintessential ‘false nine’ position. Instead, he’s able to roam around in the midfield area with another forward ahead of him.
In many ways, this really suits him. Playing a little deeper, at times he has three attackers to pick out in-front of him.
There are few better at finding space in dangerous areas than Firmino. Without being the focal point of the attack, he is perhaps able to ghost into those pockets a little more freely.
And he’s a joy to watch, of course he is. He has been for years. Supposedly an elegant player in his day, it’s easy to see why someone like Nevin would be drawn towards Bobby.
Someone who prefers a clinical edge to their football maybe doesn’t realise the genius of the 31-year-old. But for all the football purists, he is a dream.
At Liverpool, we’re lucky to have seen going on eight years of Firmino magic. Let’s enjoy him while we can.
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