Firmino answers Nunez challenge
Reports of Roberto Firmino’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
There was a sense among some that the Brazilian’s race at Liverpool was close to being run after a previous campaign hampered by injury and the increased competition for the central striking role from Diogo Jota and later Sadio Mane.
That Jurgen Klopp has already explained Mane’s replacement, Darwin Nunez, has been bought as a number nine represents a fresh challenge for the player currently wearing the jersey who, during his time at Anfield, has forced a reappraisal of what the position entails.
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Firmino, though, is quite clearly ready to take it on.
Lively against both Manchester United and Crystal Palace in the Far East, he was even better in Leipzig, demonstrating all of the attributes that have long made him a favourite under Klopp – pressing relentlessly, dropping in between the lines, and making space for his fellow forwards.
And there was an assist to set Liverpool on their way to comfortable victory, taking a short pass from Mohamed Salah and then rolling the ball back into the path of the Egyptian to slot home.
Leipzig identified the danger – Firmino was on the receiving end of some meaty challenges, including one in particular from Willi Orban – but the Bundesliga side found the forward difficult to contain.
Nunez’s quadruple after replacing Firmino at half-time underlined the key difference between the duo. But with a possible new contract to play for – the Brazilian is in the last 12 months of his current deal – it’s clear Bobby has the bit between his brilliant white teeth.
Elliott and Carvalho fun prospect
He will command the headlines, but Darwin Nunez isn’t the only summer Liverpool signing already causing a stir.
While injury has thus far kept right-back Calvin Ramsay in the shadows, Fabio Carvalho has embraced the opportunities already afforded him during pre-season. Lively in the Far East, the exciting teenager again shone when introduced on the left flank for the second half.
Carvalho makes things happen, whether it’s fashioning chances for himself, sliding the ball in from deep or running at the opposing defence before releasing a team-mate. And it was the latter that laid on the final Liverpool for Nunez, the weight of pass inviting the Uruguayan to provide the finish.
On the other flank, Harvey Elliott once more issued a statement of intent for the new campaign and assisted Nunez’s hat-trick goal with a low cross.
Although neither Elliott nor Carvalho are likely to be regular starters in the opening weeks, the introduction of five substitutions in the Premier League means they have the chance for ample minutes.
Having revelled when playing together in Fulham’s youth teams, the reunited duo look a fun prospect over the coming months.
Clean slate as Bajcetic impresses again
A minor postscript, perhaps. But it’s worth noting that after the defensive meltdown against United last Tuesday, Liverpool have now kept successive clean sheets.
The feat is all the more impressive given Alisson Becker remains absent although, like Ramsay, he is in the travelling party that will now head for Austria for a week-long training camp.
Adrian has been solid enough, and made one good save from Christophe Nkunku that bailed out former Leipzig man Ibrahima Konate. With Caomhin Kelleher sidelined, Klopp may have to rely on the Spaniard if Alisson doesn’t soon recover.
Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez were solid in their respective 45-minute showings, while Fabinho continues to blow off the cobwebs in defensive midfield. Pre-season has rarely been the Brazilian’s forte.
But his replacement on the hour, Stefan Bajcetic, again caught the eye, the 17-year-old’s high pressing initiating Liverpool’s fourth goal.
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