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When the November international break came, Liverpool found themselves at the top of the table, following a nine-game unbeaten streak in the league. Much of the credit for the team’s 30 goals and incredible run of form could be credited to Roberto Firmino, the Brazilian attacker that has become a key figure in Jürgen Klopp’s blazing hot front line.
For his part, the 25-year-old feels there’s a lot to be hopeful for this season, and chief among those things is their German manager.
“English football is a little faster and the technical level is higher than in Germany,” he said in an interview, “but a big factor is that there are games more often. Of course, in a change of team and country, there is always a process of adaptation. Fortunately, the opportunity to work with Jürgen Klopp was a great help in my adaptation to Liverpool.
“He is a coach who knows very well the squad, the league, and [he] studies opponents before each game. He is a friend of everyone around him, works with great respect and has the affection of all wherever he goes.
“On the other hand, he is very demanding, both with himself and with all who are part of our daily work, on and off the pitch. He is a football scholar [who] examines each match in every detail.”
While Firmino didn’t get much time to work with Brendan Rodgers, it’s undeniable how much he’s flourished in the year that he’s been working under Klopp. The current set-up that features him in a front three along with fellow Brazilian Philippe Coutinho and new signing Sadio Mané has led to him scoring six goals so far this season and creating four more. And while nothing is guaranteed, those three don’t look close to stopping banging in the goals any time soon.
Firmino will be there Tuesday night when Brazil play Peru in a fight for World Cup qualification, but then barring injury*, he and Coutinho should be flying back in time to prepare for Liverpool’s game against Southampton on Saturday.
*knocks on wood, rubs lucky rabbit’s foot, spins around three times backwards and spits