Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf has compared Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino to Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema after Liverpool’s 4-1 loss at Napoli yesterday.
The Reds were abject in Italy, going three goals down before half-time despite the fact Alisson saved a penalty and Virgil van Dijk cleared off the line.
Piotr Zielinski opened the scoring after James Milner gave away a spot-kick five minutes in, before Alisson denied Osimhen from the spot ten minutes later.
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Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa and Giovanni Simeone trebled Napoli’s lead before Zielinski added another after the half-time break. Luis Diaz pulled back a consolation, but it was a shocking display by Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Firmino was preferred to Darwin Nunez and was a little anonymous in the match, but Seedorf, a four-time UEFA Champions League winner with Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan, believes he is key to any success Liverpool can have this season.
“Diego Maradona immediately makes you understand that here you can not come for a walk and I think the Liverpool players have already understood it,” Seedorf told Prime Video
“I would always put Firmino in the team. In recent years Liverpool did well because he is a bit like Benzema at Real Madrid.
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“He knows how to play a little deeper and goes on the wings.
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“He is a nine who can read what the team needs and Klopp will focus a lot on him this season, despite the arrival of Nunez”.
Being compared to Benzema will be quite the compliment for the Brazilian, who has scored 101 goals for Liverpool since arriving from Hoffenheim in 2015.
He has won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield in his time at Anfield, but has one year left on his contract.
Firmino has been one of the Reds better players this season, scoring three and assisting three - but with the emergence of Nunez and Diogo Jota, he will likely struggle to maintain his starting berth.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Karim Benzema, Liverpool