Roberto Firmino will only stop running when he’s taken off – Jurgen Klopp

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has praised the work-rate of Roberto Firmino, suggesting the only way to stop the Brazilian running is to substitute him.

Firmino, 26, has scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in the Premier League so far this season, but his defensive work and selflessness are perhaps equally valuable attributes.

The former Hoffenheim attacker has been a key part of Liverpool’s prolific front three this term alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. NaijaBet.com

Klopp believes his players sometimes need reminding of their defensive responsibilities – but not Firmino.

The Liverpool manager elaborated following his side’s 5-0 win over Watford in the Premier League on Saturday. NaijaBet.com

“A lot of my players need [a reminder to defend]. Don’t misunderstand me, it’s only a thing, it’s not exactly the same strength,” said Klopp, reports the Guardian.

“If you talk about Roberto, he loves running in that direction and chasing the players. If I said to him ‘Stop it’, he couldn’t.

“That’s why I took him off, because he will never rest. He runs all the time but then Mo didn’t stop as well tonight – in the other direction. He took each sprint like the 100-metre final in the Olympic Games.

“That’s what I mean: the team adapts to the strengths. Nobody is talking and saying, ‘Mo, but you have to …’ At the moment, nobody is saying anything to Salah other than ‘carry on’.”

Liverpool’s front three in numbers

Between them, Firmino, Mane and Salah have scored 50 of Liverpool’s 73 Premier League goals this season. NaijaBet.com

They have also produced a combined 23 league assists, mostly for each other.

Indeed, Firmino (3 assists) and Salah (4 assists) have combined for seven Premier League goals this term – Salah scored four times and assisted Firmino’s goal against Watford. NaijaBet.com

That’s the joint-most by any pair of players in the English top flight, level with Mane (6 assists) and Salah (1 assist), which illustrates how Liverpool’s front three works as a team more effectively than any other attacking unit in the country.