Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted star striker Roberto Firmino ‘didn’t play very well’ against Fulham last weekend.
The Reds opening game of the Premier League season saw them being forced to come from behind twice to earn a draw.
They were expected to ease through, but Marco Silva’s side caused them serious problems and the Portuguese manager may feel hard done by not to come away with all three points.
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Despite signing prolific striker Darwin Nunez for a record fee in the summer, Klopp chose to go with Premier League experience and started Roberto Firmino.
Speaking ahead of his sides' game against Crystal Palace, the German stated:
“He is very important. Bobby”
“If you take our last game we didn’t find him properly for different reasons. We analysed it, the centre was very often blocked.
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“He didn’t play well and we found it difficult to get him into the game. But we don’t judge him on one game.
“He had a good pre-season and will benefit from that during the season. 200 starts in PL is not bad, most of them with me.”
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Firmino has been central to Klopp’s plans ever since the German manager arrived at Anfield in 2015.
Alongside Salah and Mane, he was part of an extremely deadly frontline that terrorised Premier League defences and was crucial in helping Liverpool lift the Champions League and their first ever domestic title.
However, since joining at the start of the summer, Darwin Nunez has seriously impressed in a Liverpool shirt.
The Uruguayan won a penalty and scored in the Red’s Community Shield victory against City and also amassed an impressive 1.7XG in the 39 minutes he played against Fulham.
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It remains to be seen whether Klopp will stick with Firmino or turn to the in-form Nunez for their upcoming clash against Palace.
Topics: Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Roberto Firmino
Ben King