Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp singled out Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino for special praise after the Reds got their season back on track with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham at Anfield on Saturday evening.
Senegalese forward Sadio Mane returned to the team after spending much of January at the Africa Cup of Nations, but it was Firmino, playing as a false 9, that caught the German tactician’s eye the most on the day.
“It was how we have to play against Tottenham,” Klopp said. “We had to show a reaction and it was perfect. It was an outstanding performance offensively in the first half, and defensively in the second half.
“We could have scored again. There were some outstanding individual performances. We understand it is a situation that we have to go through together. On a physical level there were some brilliant displays from Henderson, Wijnaldum, Firmino – My God I don’t think I’ve seen a better performance from a striker without scoring.”