The next Roberto Firmino is here and he’s everything Liverpool need right now | OneFootball

Michael Edwards will have dreamt about the second coming of Roberto Firmino, now he's here and he's arrived at the perfect time in light of Hugo Ekitike's injury.

When he walked away from Anfield, everyone knew there’d never be another No.9 quite like Bobby. He was truly one of a kind.

Of course, the Brazilian could score goals, but that was never what defined him. What set him apart was his selflessness.

Rather than chasing the spotlight, Firmino became the heartbeat of the attack, linking everything together and bringing the best out of Mo Salah and Sadio Mané.

His intelligence, his movement, the way he dropped deep and opened up space, it all made Liverpool tick.

He played with humility, with flair, and always with that unmistakable smile. Firmino wasn’t just a great player he embodied the spirit of the team.

It’s no coincidence that, since he left, Liverpool have struggled to truly replace what he gave them.

What truly set Firmino apart, and what Liverpool are missing most right now, was his pressing.

Few players in the modern game matched his relentless energy. It’s no surprise Michael Edwards held him in such high regard, so much so that he even named his dog “Bobby” after him.

But Firmino’s pressing wasn’t just about effort for effort’s sake. It was intelligent, calculated, and perfectly timed.

He had a natural instinct for when to pounce, when to close down, cut passing lanes, and force errors at exactly the right moment.

In Klopp’s gegenpressing system, Firmino was the key. He was the piece that made everything click. He turned defensive pressure into attacking opportunities, helping Liverpool play their signature high-octane, “heavy metal” football.

Since his departure, there’s been a clear drop-off in Liverpool’s ability to suffocate teams and win the ball back high up the pitch. Under Arne Slot, that intensity, especially in pressing, just hasn’t been the same.

And now with Hugo Ekitike potentially being ruled out for over nine months, Liverpool have to turn towards the attack again.

Which gives them the perfect opportunity to find their next Firmino - who plays for Hoffenheim.

The German side is where Firmino first made his mark in Europe and right now they are also the club that has one of the best pressing systems in Europe's top five leagues this season.

Currently, Hoffenheim have the highest PPDA and the most pressing sequences in the Bundesliga as per Opta Analyst.

At the apex of this pressing machine is Fisnik Asllani, who is quickly developing a reputation as one of the most underrated attackers in the league - just like Firmino was.

Asllani has 19 goal contributions for Hoffenheim this season, averaging a goal or assist 0.81 per 90 minutes.

He is more than just an attacking player though. Like Firmino Asllani is comfortable with his back to goal, he's extremely technical and brilliant at linking up with his teammates.

On top of that he's a threat inside the box, who can latch onto crosses and cut-backs and play in tight spaces, coming up with creative solutions to open defences up.

© IMAGO - Fisnik Asllani Liverpool