Liverpool legend John Barnes said that he believes that the presence of Brazil international Roberto Firmino will be more important than that of Mohamed Salah this season.
Salah is arguably viewed as the star of the current Liverpool team after he scored 32 goals from 36 Premier League appearances last season and won the Golden Boot award.
While the Reds did not win any major silverware this season, they bolstered their lineup during the summer with many impressive signings such as Fabinho, Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri and finally brought in a quality keeper in Alisson Becker.
Barnes thinks very highly of Liverpool’s Firmino, so much so, that he thinks that the striker could have helped Brazil win the 2018 World Cup, had Tite opted to select him ahead of Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus during the tournament in Russia.
Liverpool began the 2018-19 season in stunning fashion by recording a 4-0 victory over West Ham through goals from Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge, as well as a brace from Sadio Mane.
Firmino played 69 minutes, but could not find the back of the net. Barnes, however, believes that the Brazilian is the most important part of the feared Liverpool attacking trio consisting of Firmino, Salah and Mane.
While speaking on behalf of Bonus Code Bets (via Standard), Barnes said: “Firmino, for me, is the biggest part of [the attack].
“Everybody’s talking about Salah and of course Salah has been fantastic in terms of goals he’s scored, but if Liverpool had a Harry Kane, a Robert Lewandowski, or a typical No.9, I don’t think Salah would score those goals.
“Not only does Firmino vacate the middle for Mane and Salah to make diagonal runs to score the goals, he also plays them in – he doesn’t just move out of that position for other people to play them in.
“If you look at Liverpool’s midfield players, they are hardworking players, there’s no [Philippe] Coutinho there.
“The creativity really comes from Firmino; the final pass, the final incisive move, comes from Firmino.”
