Top Four or Nothing for Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino

Liverpool have had to wait 16 days since their last game. They’ve spent it on the outside looking in; sitting in fifth after spending much of the autumn one of the league’s title favourites. It’s been a painfully long wait for the fans, and it’s been the same for many of the players, including Roberto Firmino.

Jürgen Klopp’s first choice striker and the man who sets the press for this Liverpool side, Firmino hasn’t much enjoyed having an extended break from football. He hasn’t much enjoyed getting to train in Spain or have a little more time away from the pitch mid-season. And he hasn’t enjoyed being fifth.

“I would play two or three times a week if we could,” Firmino said as he and his teammates made their final preparations for Leicester City. “It’s best for the team to be playing that way. I’m very sad there’s no European competition this season and I’m really looking forward to getting back in next season.”

It’s not just about getting back into Europe and regularly playing two games a week—something this Liverpool side will need to add strength in depth to be able to cope with no matter Firmino’s eagerness—though. It’s about getting back into the Champions League. And that means the top four.

“We have to work a lot harder,” the Brazilian attacker added. “We have an obligation to try and achieve the top four for that reason—that we do have more rest. Its very important for the team and the players. We intend to fight to the end so that we can achieve that top four position.

“The objective is to end in the top four. We are going to keep on fighting until the last game to achieve that goal.”