Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson has praised team-mate Roberto Firmino saying the Brazilian has been ‘brilliant’ in the last few months, and he expects him to get even better.
Henderson has also revealed that he did not know much about the Brazilian before he joined Anfield, but the Reds skipper has been very impressed by the 24-year-old’s recent performances.
“Being completely honest, I had seen very little of him before he arrived here,” Henderson told the Liverpool magazine, via Sky Sports.
“Naturally, he needed some time to settle in but he’s been brilliant for us, especially over the last few months.
“He’s a very, very good player with a lot of skill who also works extremely hard for the team. He’s provided goals and I think he’s much more robust than people realise, he’s quite wiry.
“Now it’s about him continuing to grow and get even better.”
Firmino joined Liverpool last summer for a reported fee of £29m (his current market value is €35m per transfermarkt) and after a slow start at the club, he is now making strong impact with some outstanding performances in recent matches.
He has played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s revival, and has scored in each of his last three matches.
The Brazilian was simply brilliant in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League where he was involved in both the goals. He played in a nicely disguised pass to Nathaniel Clyne, who subsequently felled to win a penalty, and in the second half, he scored the winner himself.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s longest serving player Lucas Leiva says he is happy to play as a defender to prolong his career at Anfield.
The Brazilian started his Liverpool career as a holding midfielder under Rafael Benitez and struggled hard to establish himself as a popular figure among the Liverpool fans.
Under Klopp, Lucas has usually played in the defensive midfield role, but the Brazilian did well in the central defence as well.
Liverpool are likely to invest on buying a defender in the summer, and with Sakho, Skrtel, Lovren and Joel Matip already in the ranks, it is really hard for him to establish as a defender in the side.
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