Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Stephen Killen

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta granted Roberto Firmino wish as Liverpool prepare for emotional move

Another member of the iconic Liverpool trio Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane will applaud the Kop for the final time as the Brazilian leaves at the end of the season.

Anfield will bid farewell to flamboyant Firmino on Saturday against Aston Villa as his eight-year stay on Merseyside draws to an end.

The 31-year-old arrived from Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim as a 23-year-old for £22m. Since then he has gone on to play over 360 times for Liverpool and has become the most utilised player under the stewardship of Jurgen Klopp.

To add to his prolific spell with the Reds, he has won medals for the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup and both domestic cup triumphs in recent seasons. However, with the expiry of his contract looming at the end of the season, it was confirmed that the Brazil international would be departing at the end of the season.

READ MORE: Roberto Firmino handed Liverpool opportunity denied to Sadio Mane and Daniel Sturridge

READ MORE: Roberto Firmino could finally break his Liverpool tradition as Anfield prepares for emotional goodbye

During his Liverpool career, Firmino has scored 109 goals, 80 coming in the English top-flight. In 23 appearances this season, he has scored nine goals during a difficult campaign for Klopp's side and in recent weeks, he has suffered injury troubles which had originally plunged his farewell against the Villans this weekend into doubt.

However, the German boss has confirmed that he has trained this week ahead of his final hurrah in L4 as James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are among those saying goodbye.

Robbie Fowler loved playing against Villa, you could always rely on Fernando Torres to notch a goal against Chelsea and Norwch City were delighted to see the departure of Luis Suarez after bagging three hat-tricks against the Canaries. In a similar breath, there will be a number of clubs happy to see the back of Firmino.

One of those is Arsenal. The Gunners were once again on the receiving end of a goal from the Brazilian in the enthralling 2-2 draw which damaged the North London clubs' title aspirations.

Trent Alexander-Arnold left Oleksandr Zinchenko for dead before delivering for Firmino who nodded beyond Aaron Ramsdale. The 31-year-old has scored more goals against Arsenal than any other club.

In 18 appearances, the forward has netted 11 times and his joy against the London club started in his debut season. He grabbed a double in the 3-3 draw in 2016 but his standout came in the 5-1 demolition at Anfield during the Champions League-winning campaign.

His treble helped Klopp's side see off the challenge from Unai Emery's side and he leaves Liverpool scoring in each of their last three meetings with the Gunners.

FIRMINO' What was Bobby's best moment? Cast your vote in our poll below

Watford, who have fluctuated between the Premier League and the Championship in recent seasons, are another club have fallen to the goalscoring exploits of the 31-year-old. After encountering the Hornets for the first time, he scored four in six meetings and prior to their relegation to the second tier of English football last season, he took home the matchball with an impressive treble in a 5-0 win at Vicarage Road.

Fortunately for Leicester City, Firmino missed both meetings this season through injury however in both games they suffered defeats as they stare down the barrel of the drop. The Foxes are another side who he has enjoyed playing against scoring six in 14 Premier League meetings and on two occasions, he has netted a brace both coming where the Reds fired four past Kasper Schmeichel.

Like the Leicestershire side, Crystal Palace failed to nullify the Brazilian as he fired six past the Eagles during his time in the Premier League.

In the season where Liverpool defended their first Premier League crown, Firmino bagged twice in their commanding win at Selhurst Park as the Reds hit the hosts for seven.

Manchester City have been a club embroiled in a battle for silverware for a number of years as Klopp battled with his opposite number Pep Guardiola during their reign in England both domestically and internationally. One of the most memorable meetings came in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium on course to the final in Kyiv.

Firmino robbed Nicolas Otamendi of possession before sliding it past Ederson to give the Reds a 2-1 lead on the night and a four-goal cushion on aggregate after Salah cancelled out Gabriel Jesus' opener inside two minutes.

He has scored a further four goals against the Citizens during his Anfield career, all of which came in the Premier League.

The departure of Firmino marks the changing of guard in the Reds' formidable strikeforce. For years, Klopp's front three struck fear into defences as Salah, Sadio Mane and the Brazilian proved insurmountable with their goal contributions.

After the Senegal icon departed for Bayern Munich last summer which coincided with the former Roma wingers contract extension, the 31-year-old's exit marks the latest departure from the iconic trio.

Firmino may have arrived as an unknown Brazilian but he leaves a fully-fledged Liverpool icon and Arsenal will be delighted that he won't be tormenting them in a red shirt anymore.

PICK: Does Bobby start vs Villa? Pick your XI using our team selector

READ NEXT

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.