Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he spoke with Roberto Firmino about his struggles in front of goal this season, with his Boxing Day celebration a ‘thank you’ for keeping the faith.
The Brazilian had scored just four Premier League goals prior to the trip to Leicester City – and only once in his last 11 outings – but back-to-back goals in the Club World Cup, including the winning goal in the final, appear to have sparked him back to life.
Firmino opened the scoring against Leicester with a strong header and then grabbed his brace with a powerful and precise finish in the second half as Liverpool secured a 4-0 victory.
The 28-year-old made a beeline for the dugout to celebrate with Klopp and the German coach revealed afterwards that Firmino has struggled away from the pitch during his barren run.
He told reporters: ‘Bobby in the last three games now has scored four times, right?
‘And before that he didn’t score that often, and journalists tell me Bobby Firmino didn’t score for a while and I don’t even realise.
‘When I think about Bobby I don’t think about scoring. I just think about how important he is.
‘So we had a little talk, because he looked, for the first time since I’ve known him, a little bit concerned about that fact and I told him that I am not interested in that number. Just like this.
‘Because he is the connector for our team, he’s so important for us. He’s not the only one that can play the position but he can play the position in a very special way.
‘He doesn’t have to come [over and celebrate with me] every day and after every goal.
‘But this time we had this little thing where he thought I was a bit calm enough to leave him on the pitch in these games, so he thought he had to say thank you, that’s all.’
After moving 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, Firmino and Liverpool are back in action again on Sunday afternoon when they take on Wolves at Anfield.
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