Former Premier League star Martin Keown has suggested that Liverpool front-man Roberto Firmino has not received the rating he deserves after playing a key part in the Reds’ surge for the Premier League title.
Firmino did not play as a striker prior to his move to Liverpool but the Brazilian star has transformed his game and become one of the lethal forwards in the Premier League at the moment.
Last season, the ex-Bundesliga star was up there with teammates Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah at the top of the goal-scoring charts as his efforts helped Liverpool go all the way to the Champions League final where they were defeated by Real Madrid.
Firmino has scored fewer goals than his fellow front-men this season but there is absolutely no question about what he adds to the team even when he is not on the score sheet.
That is why BBC pundit and ex-footballer Martin Keown believes the 27-year-old is probably the most underrated man in the Premier League.
“He is perhaps the most underrated player in the Premier League due to the work rate he puts in… he links up play,” said Keown on Football Focus (BBC One, April 13, 12:08)
“He is the foil for those two players, Mane and Salah, they have the real pace.”