Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino playing in a Europa League clash against Rangers.
Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images
There will likely never be another Liverpool player quite like Roberto Firmino.
Although he often saw the spotlight stolen by the more prolific duo of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, the Brazilian was an absolutely vital part of Jurgen Klopp’s team, and his teammates sometimes appreciated him even more than those who scored more goals.
Andy Robertson has reaffirmed the love for Firmino behind the scenes by naming him as the player he played alongside who had the best football brain. However, Robertson also claimed that another former Liverpool teammate – Thiago Alcantara – is also worth a mention in that respect.
With Szoboszlai, Isak and Gakpo still doubts, is this how you would line up against Brentford? 🤔 Gravenberch is suspended for this one
Could you start Barcola through the middle? He played there a little bit for PSG and Lyon
@freddie Go ask Birmingham, Hull or Stoke fans what they think of him (they've seen much more of him than we have) and come back to me mate!!
It was so tight, it was just unlucky! Very harsh on a player who’s not had many chances due to him having two £100m+ strikers ahead of him and now wingers who cost the same! Think he’s been brilliant and working hard only adds to that, I’m a big Koumas fan. Gotta lead the line for me, deserves it!
Robertson highlights Thiago’s footballing vision
Robertson has done plenty of interviews recently in which he has looked back at his time with Liverpool and the reasons behind his exit from Anfield.
In another sitdown with Sky Sports this weekend, the Scot was asked by Kelly Cates to name the player with the best ‘football strategy’ throughout his career so far.
“In terms of just skill and things like that, Bobby Firmino,” Robertson said. “But communication, Bobby couldn’t talk! But he saw things on a pitch that nobody else could see.
“Thiago was also up there, he was technically so good but also the way he thought football could be played, he would tell other people and he would communicate that on the pitch and try and help us.
“When he came to us he was already so experienced, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and he was big for us.”
READ MORE: Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Brentford as Andoni Iraola makes call on injured trio
Robertson highlights Henderson and Milner
Robertson was also asked to name the best leader and the best communicator he had shared a dressing room with. Unsurprisingly, the 32-year-old picked out former Liverpool captain and vice-captain Jordan Henderson and James Milner for this one.
“Hendo was an unbelievable captain,” he said. “At that time, I was really young when I got the captaincy at Scotland and I was trying to find what kind of leader I wanted to be and how I wanted to do it. I wouldn’t say I copied Hendo but I looked at him and I looked up to him.
“Everything that he did for our club was spot on, and I’m thinking ‘in my own way I need to be spot on in everything I do. The way I carry myself off the pitch, on the pitch,’ and Jordan definitely taught me that.”
Milner gets credit for being the best communicator, with Robertson looking back on how the former Reds’ No. 7 would speak to his teammates even if he was not playing at the time.
“It’s pretty easy, Milly communicates on and off the pitch,” he said. “As a player he’s always seen the game pretty good, there was very rarely a time I’d go, ‘you’re wrong, James.’
“I think he could communicate well on the pitch, but even before games, at half-time, even if he was on the bench you could hear him shouting when he’s warming up on the side.”