Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports/@JamesPearceLFC via Twitter
Topics: Football, Firmino, Roberto Firmino, Liverpool, Premier League, Anfield
Chris Byfield
Topics: Football, Firmino, Roberto Firmino, Liverpool, Premier League, Anfield
Roberto Firmino said an emotional goodbye to Anfield after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.
With Aston Villa 1-0 up, Klopp called for Firmino and James Milner from the bench - both of whom are leaving the club in the summer - and it was the Brazilian who forced home the equaliser in the games dying embers.
It was his 110th and potentially final goal for the club.
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Of course, it was a bruising draw for Liverpool. The point at Anfield, coupled with Manchester United’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth, means Jurgen Klopp’s men are three points adrift of their rivals in fourth, having played a game more. In turn, it looks very unlikely Liverpool will be playing Champions League football next season.
However, Firmino’s dramatic Anfield goodbye was very much the focus at full-time.
Firmino was in tears at the full-time whistle as he made an emotional farewell to the Anfield crowd.
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At that point, he was being embraced by Reds goalkeeper and compatriot Alisson Becker, who offered consoling words after a remarkable run of success together.
And after the match, the Brazil international was able to take in the love of the Anfield faithful during a lap of the pitch.
Firmino, who joined Liverpool back in 2015, was given a standing ovation and serenaded with the popular chant of his name by the Kop.
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Indeed, in his eight-year spell on Merseyside Firmino was central as the club claimed the Champions League title in 2019, and their first Premier League crown in three decades the following season.
In particular, he was lauded for his part in a fearsome attacking trio alongside Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
Firmino is leaving upon the expiry of his contract, and at present his next destination is unclear.
He departs alongside Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who have all played an important role in the club’s resurgence under Klopp.
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Speaking in March as it was announced that Firmino would leave the club, Klopp spoke of the 31-year-old's legacy at Liverpool.
He said: “There’s no time for a goodbye or whatever in this moment, there’s enough time for that later in the season. Whenever he will come back, everybody knows that the song will still be for a long, long time in everybody’s ears I’m pretty sure."