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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Stephen Killen

Jamie Carragher makes Roberto Firmino and Lionel Messi point ahead of Liverpool farewell

Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher says Roberto Firmino helped create one of the best attacking trios in the club and Premier League's history.

The trip to St Mary's to face Southampton will be the final match of his eight-year spell at Anfield. After the draw with Aston Villa, the 31-year-old said goodbye to the Kop in an emotional farewell as he was serenaded with his iconic chant 'Si Senor'.

It was another massive contribution for the former Hoffenheim striker as he scored the equaliser late on to keep the Reds' faint Champions League hopes alive. Firmino leaves Liverpool as a hero, winning the Premier League, Champions League as well as both domestic cups in England.

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Cody Gakpo looks set to replace the forward after deputising in the Brazilian's attacking role following his arrival from PSV Eindhoven. The former Liverpool defender paid a glowing tribute to Firmino as he goes on to pastures new.

"It was never about goals for Roberto Firmino. He was integral to the team, he was the first defender, he was maybe the first false nine we had in the Premier League - we had Messi being that at Barcelona but he was a great goalscorer," he said speaking on the Essential Football Podcast for Sky Sports.

"With Firmino it was his work off the ball as much as it was on the ball. He was a great foil for the other two [Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah], who you would call wide-strikers, that was part of maybe one of the best front threes we've ever seen in the Premier League.

"I think certainly one of the best Liverpool had in all those years. You never judged him on goals and that's a great sign for a striker in terms it shows how much he's doing away from the goals to show no one really criticised him if he's goes a few of games without a goal."

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