Only Mo Salah remains from the original front three.
It’s a sad day for Liverpool fans as Roberto Firmino has reportedly informed Jurgen Klopp that he will be leaving the club in the summer when his contract expires.
After eight years at Anfield, the Brazilian has endeared himself with the Liverpool faithful and become a fan favourite for his important goals, silky skills, and beaming smile.
Sky Sports Germany have reported that the 31-year-old will be leaving the club at the end of the season and that he told Klopp personally about his decision.
Although he was already at the club when the German native took over, it was under Klopp’s guidance that Firmino mastered the art of the false nine role. He became an integral part of the original front three that lit up the Premier League.
With Mohammad Salah and Sadio Mane on either side of him, the 2019 European Cup winner’s pressing, leg work and creativity brought the best out of his teammates.
Klopp said that when Firmino retires, they will write books about how he defined the false nine role and took it to a whole new level.
In recent years, the striker’s game time had started to become more and more limited, especially with the introduction of Diogo Jota, who seemed the natural heir to his throne.
Since then, Liverpool have signed Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo to enhance their forward line, so the terrific trickster probably knew he would be used more sparingly.
However, before he picked up an injury, Firmino was the club’s top scorer this season, hitting a rich vein of goalscoring form that made everyone assume he would be receiving a contract extension.
Sky Germany are reporting that Roberto Firmino is set to leave Liverpool at the end of this season pic.twitter.com/oF1uDqkuqi
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 3, 2023
Alas, given the club’s downfall in form following a crazy year where they almost won the quadruple, there was always going to be an exodus at Anfield in order to make room for new blood.
The Samba star has certainly cemented his place as a club legend, and his name will be sung at the KOP end long after he retires.
Firmino joined Liverpool from Hoffenheim in 2015 for £29m. He has made 353 appearances for the Reds and scored 107 goals. Over the last season and a half, however, his playing time has been reduced due to competition for places and fitness issues.
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