Klopp’s faith in the forward has seemingly now paid off following his decision to start him in a more advanced role against City, and the Liverpool manager revealed that Firmino’s hard work in training was one of the reasons for his superb performance on Saturday.
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And lively Liverpool more or less buried City in the 33rd minute, when James Milner carried the ball up the right flank to begin a play that finished with Emre Can backheeling through to Coutinho, who found Firmino for the 3-0 lead. His sensible pull back was diverted rather clumsily by Mangala into his own net, leaving Joe Hart with little chance.
“You can’t win a game against a team like Man City without passion”.
Roberto Firmino had his best game since his summer move from Hoffenheim, scoring his first for the club, assisting in two others.
A fourth goal looked likely before half-time but it was the home side that scored it. It took a finish of pure class from Aguero though to reduce the deficit just before the break. “I am not sure if I should make a list”, Klopp said.
“The good news is that we can do better”. It was Coutinho’s cross that caused the first goal off Eliaquim Mangala, it was then followed by one by the former Inter Milan player himself.
The attacking midfielder danced past Bacary Sagna, and he provided Firmino with the easiest of tap-ins, queueing wild celebrations from the Liverpool fans and players. He picked out Coutinho in the box, who side-footed past Joe Hart.
Brazilian forwards Phillippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino were in sensational form. The second goal came after 23 minutes, originating from a misplaced Demichelis header, but also featuring another demonstration of Mangala’s lack of anticipation.
City were without their influential captain Vincent Kompany because of injury, and his absence was again keenly felt, but manager Manuel Pellegrini also opted to leave in-form Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho on the bench.
“It is hard to understand why we should play so badly – not just one name but a complete team in defending or attacking possession”.
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The pair could have been forgiven for having their minds elsewhere and that appeared to be the case as a sequence of glaring errors in City’s defence allowed the visitors to take control of the game.
