Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane has rated his strike partner Roberto Firmino ahead of himself and his other strike partner, Mohamed Salah. The 28-year-old Senegalese left-winger believes that the Brazilian forward has been contributing more to the success of Liverpool than he and Salah.
Roberto Firmino has been at Liverpool since July 2015. He is one of the three established forwards at the club. Though he scores goals and provides assists like his teammates, he is not always in the spotlight like Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
One of the excuses for this is that Salah and Mane often score more goals than the 29-year-old Brazilian center-forward. For instance, so far this season, Mane and Salah are ahead of Firmino in terms of total goals scored in all competitions.
So far this season, the Brazilian has made 25 Premier League appearances, scoring 6 goals and providing 5 assists. He has scored a total of 6 goals and provided a total of 7 assists in 35 games in all competitions this season.
On the other hand, Sadio Mane has scored a total of 11 goals and provided 5 assists in 32 games in all competitions for Liverpool this season.
While Mohamed Salah has proven to be more effective upfront by scoring a total of 17 goals in 24 Premier League games and providing three assists. He has scored a total of 24 goals and provided 4 assists in 35 games in all competitions.
In reaction to the attention Sadio Mane and Salah have been enjoying ahead of Roberto Firmino, the Senegalese forward stressed that the Brazilian deserves more credit. He noted that the Brazilian’s hard-pressing style helps to create chances for him and Salah to score goals.
“He deserves more credit than me and Mo, for sure,” Mane told ESPN Brazil.
“But it is part of football, (people) always seeing the goals scored. But without Bobby, I don’t see me and Mo score as many goals as we have, to be honest.
“He makes everything easier for us. Brazil are just lucky to have Firmino. I have always said to Bobby: ‘You will have to change your nationality and come to Senegal’.
“For me, that would be a dream. I just love him. I think he is my favorite team-mate.”
Sadio Mané on Roberto Firmino:
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) February 20, 2021
“Without Bobby I always say me and Mo wouldn’t score as many goals. I say to him sometimes I wish he could change from Brazil to Senegal!” 🔴
pic.twitter.com/J6yrKTxbuP
Though the trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah had won Liverpool almost everything in club football including the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and the Premier League, they have been subjected to criticism in most parts of this season.
Liverpool are not happy with the trio because they have not been scoring goals as much as they used to do. Due to this, they are currently out of the FA Cup campaign for this season, they are out of the league top four, and they are struggling to win games especially in the league
The Merseyside club is currently sitting on the 6th spot on the league table with 40 points in 25 games, 5 points away from 4th placed West Ham United.
