to play down the influence the manager has had on helping his
star to rise along with the team’s.
“I never tire of praising Klopp. He has so many good
characteristics on and off the pitch. He really helps us on a daily
basis and we learn so much from him in every way.
“He is able to have the team with him. We have been doing
things well and learning a lot from him, and we have been
showing on the pitch that we can grow more and more each
day and do our best. He is a fantastic coach for us.”
The 5-2 defeat of Everton on 4 December gave the Reds an
eight-point advantage over Leicester City, an 11-point gap on
Manchester City and 12-points on Chelsea after 15 fixtures.
They have won against all three sides in Premier League action
this season and Firmino admits last month’s win over City at
Anfield was a major boost to the team’s confidence.
“It was an important match, like all the others. It ended up
being more special because it was two teams fighting for the
top of the table. It was a match where we knew we had to be
careful, playing against a big team that we know really well and
they know us well too. We had to be careful and focused on
the game to perform well and try to win and we were able to
do that.
“It gives us confidence because we know City is a great rival.
They have won Premier League titles back-to-back and they
are a great club with great players and a great manager. We
knew that we would have to be at our best on the pitch and we
played a great game.
“We were happy to get the win but we also know it is still very
early days as far as the league is concerned.”
There was a great atmosphere inside the ground that day and
Firmino believes “the power of Anfield” that Klopp often speaks
about, can be another driver towards success as the season
progresses.
“Our fans can be that extra player as they support us during
the whole match. On the pitch, we try to do our best but they
always support us during the whole 90-plus minutes and so
they really are our 12th player.”
Of course not a match at Anfield goes by nowadays without
numerous renditions of ‘the Bobby song’. He smiles again at the
mention of it.
“The song’s really cool, part Latin from La Bombonera in
its rhythm [the atmospheric home of Argentinian club, Boca
Juniors]. It’s really motivating. When we’re on the pitch it’s
great to hear the fans chanting our names, singing our songs, it
motivates us even further to do our best on the pitch and help
the team.
“Si Señor...it really does stick in your head. I’m not going to
sing it though!”
This summer Bobby and Alisson Becker helped the national
team lift the Copa America. With a healthy number of the
Selecao playing in the Premier League, interest in English
football is strong back home.
Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace last month saw FirminoINTERVIEWWHEN WE’RE ON THE
PITCH IT’S GREAT
TO HEAR THE FANS
CHANTING OUR NAMES,
SINGING OUR SONGS,
IT MOTIVATES US EVEN
FURTHER TO DO OUR
BEST ON THE PITCH
AND HELP THE TEAM