Who is Liverpool’s most important player?Alisson? Virgil van Dijk? Jordan Henderson? Mohamed Salah? Sadio Mane?All of the above are valid answers.However, many will claim that it’s Roberto Firmino that is key to this Liverpool side.The Brazilian works incredibly hard for Jurgen Klopp’s side and allows Salah and Mane to score as many goals as they do.
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His intelligence both on and off the ball means that there’s probably no other striker in world football that can play his role as well as he can.
His goalscoring record is often criticised by some - Firmino has just 10 goals in 36 matches this season.
Despite this being his fifth season in England, Firmino is still largely underrated.
One man that doesn’t underrate him, however, is talkSPORT presenter Adam Catterall.
In fact, Catterall has got everyone talking by suggesting Firmino is actually better than Premier League legends Dennis Bergkamp and Eric Cantona.
Former Premier League striker Darren Bent revealed Catterall’s off-air comments live on talkSPORT yesterday.
“You’ve just said off-air about him being better Dennis Bergkamp and Eric Cantona,” revealed Bent.
“He’s better than both of them,” Catterall reiterated.
“Bergkamp was exceptional. Eric Cantona, I think I’ve been on the record in the past saying he’s one of the most important players that ever graced the Premier League.
"But their importance on their sides at their particular times at Arsenal and Manchester United respectively, Firmino is that for Liverpool. That’s how important he is.”
Of course, Bergkamp and Cantona won plenty of league titles for Arsenal and Manchester United respectively, while Firmino is still looking for his first.
That will surely change this season but can you compare him to the likes of Bergkamp and Cantona right now? Probably not.