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Tag: firmino

  • Chelsea explore signing Benzema, Firmino

    Chelsea explore signing Benzema, Firmino

    Premier League club Chelsea are exploring the idea of signing a Saudi Pro League striker this month.

    The Telegraph says Chelsea have Al-Ittihad centre-forward Karim Benzema and Al-Ahli’s Roberto Firmino on their radar. The Blues will seek to sign one of the two to ease the pressure on manager Mauricio Pochettino.

    Pochettino has expressed concern over his lack of attacking options, with Christopher Nkunku continuing to battle with injury.

    Former Liverpool striker Firmino is unsettled at Al Ahli after battling for consistency in the SPL.

    Meanwhile, Benzema’s future with Al-Ittihad is in doubt after struggling to get along with management since his summer arrival from Real Madrid.

    Tribalfootball

  • Salah and Mane never best friends – Firmino

    Salah and Mane never best friends – Firmino

    Roberto Firmino admits former Liverpool teammates Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were never close.

    Firmino made the admission in his new book, recalling their infamous bust-up against Burnley.

    He wrote: “The atmosphere was clearly tense. Despite the good result, an outbreak of rage from Sadio occurred in the game when he was replaced in the last minutes. My English is not very good, so I can’t tell you exactly what Mana shouted when he left. But there was definitely nothing pleasant about this!

    “I knew these guys very well, maybe better than anyone else. I saw with my own eyes, grimaces, body language, dissatisfaction when one was angry with the other. I felt it. I was the link go-between them in our attacking game and firefighters in those moments. For many, this disagreement between Sadio and Mo was the first, and for some, the first and last. But I knew that it was brewing since the previous season. My instinct and my duty was discharge the situation between them. Pour water into the fire, not gasoline.

    “They were never best friends.

    “It was rarely possible to see how they were talking, and I’m not sure if this was due to the rivalry of Egypt and Senegal in African competitions. I really don’t know.”

  • Liverpool striker Firmino explains why he’s leaving Anfield

    Liverpool striker Firmino explains why he’s leaving Anfield

    Roberto Firmino says it’s the right time to leave Liverpool.

    The striker will depart when his contract expires at the end of next month.

    “It is time, unfortunately,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “The cycle here is ended and I understand it is time to go. Maybe one day I could come back, I don’t know, but it’s time to go. Come back as a coach? Maybe! You never say never. I don’t know what is going to happen with my future. It might be to play, you never know.”

    “What will I miss most? Everything,” says Firmino. “My team-mates, the club, the fans, especially the fans, I love the fans, they’ve supported me a lot through these eight years here. I am very proud for everything that I have done here with the team, what we achieved together and the beautiful history we made together.

    “We are leaving a great legacy. I’m very grateful to God for all that. I am so proud what we achieved here together. For everything that the club did for me and for my family, I’m so happy for everything.”

  • I don’t sacrifice my game for Mane and Salah – Firmino

    I don’t sacrifice my game for Mane and Salah – Firmino

    Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino says he’s happy with his role in manager Jurgen Klopp’s setup.

    Firmino has dismissed claims he sacrifices himself to allow team-mates Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane flourish.

    The Brazilian, 30, has scored 34 Premier League goals since the start of the 2018-19 campaign – 39 fewer than Salah and 22 fewer than Mane.

    Speaking to Globo Esporte, Firmino said: “I don’t see it that way.

    “Each one has a very well-defined role on the field, it’s a team that has been playing together for some time and we know each other very well.

    “We play for each other for Liverpool, and that makes a difference.”

    He added: “Besides being an excellent coach, Klopp is a sensational guy, with a huge heart.

    “And I can say that, if I’m a better player today, it’s a lot thanks to him. We’ve known each other since German football and, here at Liverpool, we’ve been together for six years.

    “Today, I feel comfortable playing in more than one position, I have more freedom to move and also help with marking.”

  • Firmino hits hat-trick as Liverpool spoil Ranieri’s Watford bow

    Firmino hits hat-trick as Liverpool spoil Ranieri’s Watford bow

    Roberto Firmino scored a hat-trick as rampant Liverpool condemned Claudio Ranieri to a miserable start to life as Watford manager in a one-sided game at Vicarage Road.

    The home side had no answer to Liverpool’s fluid attacking play.

    Sadio Mane became the third African player to score 100 Premier League goals before Roberto Firmino struck either side of the break and Mohamed Salah finished a brilliant individual goal with a smart shot beyond Ben Foster.

    Firmino completed the scoring in the final minute for his first hat-trick since December 2018.

    The result means Liverpool have scored three goals or more in all six away games in all competitions so far this season, something no other English top-flight side has ever managed. It also extended their unbeaten start to the season and took them back to the top of the table, before Chelsea’s visit to Brentford.

    It could easily have been more but a combination of bad luck and – from Salah – a terrible mis-control cost them further opportunities.

    Watford did not manage a corner until the 78th minute. That it was greeted with huge cheers and a standing ovation just about summed up Ranieri’s day.

  • Firmino scores the winner as Liverpool go 40 matches unbeaten

    Firmino scores the winner as Liverpool go 40 matches unbeaten

    Liverpool went 40 games unbeaten Thursday as they grinded a 2-1 victory at Molineux Stadium, breaking the hearts of hard-fighting hosts Wolverhampton Wanderers.

    The winning goal came in the 84th minute from Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino, assisted by a clinical pass in the box by captain Jordan Henderson.

    Henderson had opened scoring in the eighth minute for the visitors by converting a cross by Alexander Arnold. But six minutes after resumption in the second half, Raul Jimenez scored with a header for the hosts to make the outcome of the tight match unpredictable.

    But Liverpool as they have shown this season, always have an answer, with Firmino, proving once again decisive.

    With the victory, the Reds have now extended their lead on the table to 16 points, scoring 67 out of 69 points available. And they still have a game in hand, against West Ham United. Defending champions Manchester United have 51 points, to trail in the second position.

  • Firmino brace inspires Liverpool rout of Brighton

    Firmino brace inspires Liverpool rout of Brighton

    Roberto Firmino scored twice as Liverpool made it five wins from their last six Premier League games with a 5-1 drubbing of Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

    In spite of making six changes to the Liverpool starting line-up, Juergen Klopp’s side started the game strongly and enjoyed 74 percent of possession in the opening half an hour.

    They were rewarded when Philippe Coutinho’s corner kick picked out Emre Can.

    He rose above two Brighton defenders and headed the ball past Mathew Ryan for his first Premier League goal of the season to enliven the Amex Stadium.

    The Brighton defence went to sleep and conceded a second just over a minute later.

    This was when Coutinho turned provider once again and played the perfect ball into Firmino who made no mistake by striking the ball past Ryan.

    Glenn Murray blew a golden chance to get his side back into the game just after halftime when Simon Mignolet produced a superb save to deny the Brighton forward.

    Liverpool raced down the other end and Mohamed Salah’s ball picked out Firmino who made no mistake with another clinical finish.

    Murray pulled a goal back for Brighton from the penalty spot after Jordan Henderson was adjudged to have pushed Shane Duffy, but Liverpool scored two late goals.

    Coutinho netted a clever low free kick and Lewis Dunk headed the ball past his own goalkeeper to complete the rout.

    Meanwhile, in other English Premier League matches played on Saturday, hosts Everton beat Huddersfield Town 2-0 while Leicester City beat visiting Burnley 1-0.

    Tottenham also held hosts Watford 1-1, while hosts Stoke City beat Swansea 2-1 and West Brom drew goalless with visiting Crystal Palace.

  • Liverpool Roberto Firmino on drink-drive charge

    Liverpool star Roberto Firmino has been charged with drink driving after being arrested in the early hours of Christmas Eve.

    Firmino was stopped by police while driving in Liverpool city centre on December 24 and was later charged with the offence.

    “Merseyside Police has charged a 25-year-old man with drink driving after his car was stopped in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of Saturday, December 24 2016,” a Merseyside Police spokesperson told the Guardian on Monday.

    “Roberto Firmino, from Liverpool, will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates Court on January 31.” Brazil forward Firmino, 25, is currently preparing for Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Stoke at Anfield on Tuesday.

    His court date could prove a problem however as it is scheduled for the same day that Liverpool play title rivals Chelsea at Anfield.

    Firmino is a key member of Jurgen Klopp’s side and has scored 17 goals, including six this season, in 67 appearances since joining Liverpool from Hoffenheim in July 2015.