Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has named Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino as his most difficult opponent.
Ake is having an excellent season for City and the Dutch national team, emerging as a consistently dependable option. There haven’t been too many forwards giving him huge trouble throughout 22/23.
But speaking to Hypebeast, Ake did reveal that he’s not fond of coming up against Liverpool’s number 9. Asked to name the best player he’s ever played against, some may have been surprised by the 28-year-old’s answer.
“Firmino was always a tough one because he could do everything – cuts in, drops deep, very good with the ball,” Ake raved. “Lately, as I’ve been playing at left back, players like Saka & Salah are very difficult as well.”
Great to see Bobby getting the respect he deserves from those unlucky enough to face him on the pitch. What a player.
Ake reminds Liverpool what they’ll be missing
Ake’s words are a sharp reminder of just what Liverpool will be missing beyond this season. There aren’t many better at doing what Firmino does than Firmino himself.
For eight years, Reds fans have been spoiled with weekly displays of brilliance from their beaming Brazilian. From next season onwards, Firmino will be dazzling whilst wearing the colours of another team.
To some fans, it’s about time that the 31-year-old was moved on. He’s become inconsistent with injuries and no longer offers the same threat he once did.
But 10 goals this season suggests Firmino is far from finished. As Ake will attest to, on his day he can lead just about any defender on the planet on a merry dance.
And although he perhaps isn’t as appreciated as he should be by the wider footballing world right now, one day he surely will be.
Ake won’t be the only one with this opinion. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane may have fired many of the bullets for Liverpool’s fabled front-three, but Bobby was the silent killer. And he’d do it all with a smile on his face.