'World-Class Roberto Firmino Is Ahead Of Mo Salah And Sadio Mane As Liverpool’s MVP'

Roberto Firmino has been branded the "most inconspicuous world-class player there is" and Liverpool's "MVP" ahead of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

The 29-year-old Brazilian forward has scored six times and registered seven assists in 33 appearances across all competitions this season.

But Firmino has come under heavy criticism this season over his form, despite Jurgen Klopp's faith to keep him in the starting XI.

Diogo Jota has also challenged the Brazil international for a place in the starting XI since his arrival from Wolves last September in a reported £41m deal.

Lutz Pfannenstiel was the one who first scouted Firmino for Bundesliga side Hoffenheim -- the club which Liverpool signed him from in 2015.

And the 47-year-old German still backs the former Hoffenheim star as Liverpool's most valuable player ahead of Salah and Mane.

Pfannenstiel told Goal: "Everyone talks about Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. But from my point of view, Roberto is Liverpool's MVP.

"He [Firmino] is the one who runs the most, creates the spaces and creates a lot of chances.

"He sort of lets the other two shine. That's rewarded within his team, but for me, it sometimes gets short shrift in the coverage.

"Klopp taking over at Liverpool was the best thing that could have happened from Roberto's point of view.

"He knows exactly what the coach expects from him: disciplined pressing, high, aggressive tackling. That's exactly what he learned at Hoffenheim, he knew it inside out and it's a kind of automatism for him.

"So, Klopp's way of playing fits like a glove."

Hoffenheim signed Firmino from Brazilian side Figueirense in 2011 and the Liverpool star made over 150 appearances for the club.

Former Hoffenheim video analyst Johannes Spors worked with the Brazilian in Germany and insisted that Firmino "lets others shine because he works so hard."

The 38-year-old German explained: "Roberto is the most inconspicuous world-class player there is.

"He has the skills to shine himself, but often lets others shine because he works so hard. It's not a coincidence that he is invaluable for Klopp.

"It was immediately clear that he has extraordinary creative abilities. But in addition, he was at the top of his game in terms of intensity.

"He was the player with the most sprints in relation to his total mileage. That is unusual for his position."