Firmino would probably like to think he’s better than Nani on a number of levels.
But he certainly isn’t as selfish as him anyway.
Liverpool got back to winning ways at Stoke with a 3-0 rout of Mark Hughes’ men. They kept up pace with Chelsea in third place, Mohamed Salah kept on scoring even though he wasn’t even starting and, most importantly, they kept their noses barely just ahead of Burnley who can’t stop picking up points.
But before Salah came on and hit another two goals to extend his lead at the top of the league’s scoring charts, it was Sadio Mane who had Liverpool ahead with what was just a delicious goal.
Dominic Solanke fed him a cheeky little ball – an assist on his first Premier League start for the club – but Mane’s first touch was unforeseen by mortals and his finish was exquisite.
The chip of the ‘keeper was taking its sweet time to cross the line though and this is where Roberto Firmino’s selflessness comes in.
Mane’s dink looks good initially.
But it slows up way before the line and Firmino is at hand to make sure.
He doesn’t know what’s around him but he pumps the breaks and guides the ball in so he’s not stealing Mane’s goal.
He withheld his instinct and the safety-first mechanic even as Solanke was wondering if it was going to cross as the ‘keeper made his way back.
Firmino didn’t touch it and made sure his team mate got the credit he was owed.
His team mate? He appreciated it.
And it meant you didn’t have scenes like Ronaldo’s post-match interview.
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