Roberto Firmino claims £34m Liverpool player used to frustrate everyone by not passing

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Roberto Firmino has admitted that Liverpool players used to get frustrated over Mohamed Salah’s refusal to pass the ball.

Since his £34m arrival at Anfield, Salah has often been highlighted as being a slightly greedy player, focused solely on getting goals for himself.

Although this is perhaps slightly unfair, Firmino has suggested that this view extended to the Egyptian’s teammates. In an excerpt from his new book published in The Guardian today, the Brazilian outlined how Salah’s greediness used to annoy those sharing a pitch with him.

“I don’t know if he was aware of it or not, but Salah used to frustrate everyone when he didn’t pass the ball,” Bobby says.

“I knew how to handle that situation better than most. Klopp addressed this issue in front of all of us: when a teammate was in a better position, the ball had to be passed. It was a clear hint aimed at Salah.

“Over the years, I must say, this aspect of his game improved significantly. He gradually learned to be less selfish and more cooperative – notwithstanding the fact that he is a striker, a goalscorer, and every goalscorer tends to be a bit ‘greedy’ in the pursuit of a goal. That’s normal.”

Firmino spills the tea

Firmino’s admission is made with one key incident in mind – Sadio Mane’s outburst towards Salah during a 3-0 win over Burnley in 2019.

Although it was a game which Liverpool won comfortably, Mane was angry with the Reds’ No.11 for failing to play him in when well-placed.

From then on, relations between the two forwards often appeared frosty.

Commenting on that, Firmino claims that he often held discussions with Mane about Salah, offering ways to help the Senegalese relax.

“Mane was more intense in both good and bad moments,” says the former Red.

“He was the most explosive of the three of us and he was also the person with whom I had the most freedom to discuss this issue. I was always talking to him, giving advice, trying to calm him down. I would tell him to find peace, play for the team, and stay relaxed.”

In the end, Salah’s ‘greediness’ can perhaps be seen as a lack of maturity. As the Egyptian has grown older, he’s become not only a goal-scorer, but a goal creator.

Yes, he is still a touch selfish at times, but he wouldn’t get the goals he does without that streak. Now though, his nose for goal is complimented by an incredible and surprising creative streak. If only Mane and Firmino were still here to reap the benefits of that.