Analysing Roberto Firmino, Liverpool’s masterful false nine
By Caoimhe O'Neill and Mark Carey Oct 29, 2021
21
Roberto Firmino walked off with the match ball after his hat-trick against Watford but it was a Liverpool team-mate, Mohamed Salah, who got the plaudits. And that was understandable too, following Salah’s outstanding individual goal in the game, twisting and turning before shooting past Ben Foster.
A week later, it was Salah’s turn to score three — in the 5-0 dismantling of Manchester United. The Egyptian dominated the headlines again, but his manager Jurgen Klopp was quick to point out Firmino’s contribution, playing a role in four of Liverpool’s five goals at Old Trafford.
“Mo gets a lot of attention and rightly so, but Bobby, for people with football knowledge, I’m pretty sure when he finishes playing people will write books about the way he interpreted the false nine position,” Klopp said. “I don’t say he invented it or we invented it, but with the way he plays it, from time to time it looks like (that).
“There are different things to do on the pitch, some of them are defensive, and what he did in that department tonight was absolutely insane. Offensively he is a nice link-up player and he finishes off from time to time as well.”
A “nice link-up player” might just be underplaying Firmino’s ability a tad when it comes to progressing Liverpool’s play, and particularly in that win over United last Sunday. He was doing a lot of everything at Old Trafford — 51 of his touches were passes and there were plenty of defensive actions too, such as Firmino winning the ball back after a successful press.
The touch map above shows how his involvements were spread out across the pitch rather than focused near goal, as you might expect from most centre-forwards. Five of Firmino’s touches were in the United penalty area, and three of those were shots.
Looking at his numbers across the wider sample of last season, we can see the number of shots Firmino takes per touches of the ball. More touches per shot for a centre-forward tends to highlight a player who is either a blunt attacker, is playing in a struggling side, or has a particular role within their team — it is clear that Firmino is the latter, with his role centred on link play and build-up. That’s where his strength lies.
The above chart highlights how, last season, Firmino was averaging nearly 22 touches per shot. This compares with 19 per shot for Sadio Mane and 15 per shot for Salah, who were more likely to shoot at goal than their Brazilian colleague when they had possession.
Alexandre Lacazette (21) and Gabriel Jesus (20) are two other forwards with a high number of touches per shot. These are players who tend to work hard on and off the ball for their respective teams, Arsenal and Manchester City, though it still feels as though Firmino is much more of a lynchpin to his side’s system than either of those two.
You could see that right from kick-off against United on Sunday, as Firmino pressed Victor Lindelof into clearing the ball out for a Liverpool throw-in. It happened so quickly that Sky Sports’ post kick-off graphic was still on the screen.
This was a tone-setting action from Firmino, who sensed Lindelof’s lack of confidence in that rushed clearance and would target the Swedish defender throughout the game.
A few minutes later, Firmino plays aggressor again and is found pressing from the front.
Harry Maguire is in possession below and as Salah rushes towards him, Firmino cuts off the passing route up to Fred in midfield while also keeping tabs on another of Maguire’s options, Scott McTominay, over his right shoulder. James Milner can be seen supporting the press.
Liverpool are forcing Maguire to play the ball square to centre-half partner Lindelof. Firmino’s pressing here is not only well-drilled and instinctive, it is clever. He blocks off the routes to midfield and they stay blocked once Maguire plays the pass, as he chases after Lindelof and Salah moves across.
Lindelof has no option but to clear it long.
Twenty-five seconds later, Maguire again gives the ball to Lindelof, who this time is pressed by Diogo Jota. In this next screengrab, we can see Firmino glancing over his shoulder at where McTominay is, almost sizing him up.
The ball bobbles up to Firmino and he outmuscles McTominay to head it down to fellow forward Jota…
…Firmino then sprints forward, taking McTominay and full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka with him. This leaves space for Milner to collect the ball from Jota.
Shortly after that, Andy Robertson, Liverpool’s left-back, brings the ball forward and then Jota plays it in to Firmino, who has dropped into space to collect the pass. Maguire has followed him, leaving space in behind for Salah down the middle…
…Salah passes the ball on to the supporting Naby Keita, who beats David de Gea to make it 1-0 to Liverpool with less than five minutes on the clock.
Firmino’s aptitude in the press and hunger to support his team-mates are two of his most enduring qualities now he’s 30 and into his seven season at Anfield.
The work he puts in is almost unquantifiable, particularly when it comes to his efforts off the ball. The way he blocks passing lanes and occupies areas to draw opposition players towards him is selfless and integral to the success of players like Salah and Mane.
Some might want more goals from him as a forward in such an attacking team, but Klopp is happy and Liverpool are the only unbeaten team left in the Premier League this season.
He helps co-ordinate Liverpool’s press, helps out in defensive situations at set pieces and combines brilliantly with his team-mates.
In the build-up to the third goal against United, Firmino drags three players towards him to free up space for Salah…
…and then makes a long run to the back post to offer a passing option and be on hand when Keita’s cross is turned in by Salah.
Though he didn’t touch the ball, Firmino also played a key role in the build-up to Salah’s hat-trick goal, which made it 5-0 to Liverpool early in the second half.
As McTominay’s pass drops for Fred in the centre circle, Firmino notices Keita is pressing the United midfielder and mirrors his response, pushing up towards Paul Pogba…
When Fred uses Pogba as an escape route, Firmino is already there, putting pressure on the Frenchman. Jordan Henderson is supporting him from the other side of Pogba, too…
…Firmino’s work allows Henderson to steal possession from Pogba and push forward, before playing a fine pass in for Salah to secure the match ball.
Even though the play is moving on and the ball is being threaded through to Salah, the final grab above shows Firmino is putting on the afterburners to try to support the attack.
Klopp is right. Firmino is a master of the false-nine role, and his performances will be key as Liverpool try to win back the Premier League title over the next seven months.
I can't help but think that Bobby's return to form has helped Mo move up to a higher level this season.
By Caoimhe O'Neill and Mark Carey Oct 29, 2021
Roberto Firmino walked off with the match ball after his hat-trick against Watford but it was a Liverpool team-mate, Mohamed Salah, who got the plaudits. And that was understandable too, following Salah’s outstanding individual goal in the game, twisting and turning before shooting past Ben Foster.
A week later, it was Salah’s turn to score three — in the 5-0 dismantling of Manchester United. The Egyptian dominated the headlines again, but his manager Jurgen Klopp was quick to point out Firmino’s contribution, playing a role in four of Liverpool’s five goals at Old Trafford.
“Mo gets a lot of attention and rightly so, but Bobby, for people with football knowledge, I’m pretty sure when he finishes playing people will write books about the way he interpreted the false nine position,” Klopp said. “I don’t say he invented it or we invented it, but with the way he plays it, from time to time it looks like (that).
“There are different things to do on the pitch, some of them are defensive, and what he did in that department tonight was absolutely insane. Offensively he is a nice link-up player and he finishes off from time to time as well.”
A “nice link-up player” might just be underplaying Firmino’s ability a tad when it comes to progressing Liverpool’s play, and particularly in that win over United last Sunday. He was doing a lot of everything at Old Trafford — 51 of his touches were passes and there were plenty of defensive actions too, such as Firmino winning the ball back after a successful press.
The touch map above shows how his involvements were spread out across the pitch rather than focused near goal, as you might expect from most centre-forwards. Five of Firmino’s touches were in the United penalty area, and three of those were shots.
Looking at his numbers across the wider sample of last season, we can see the number of shots Firmino takes per touches of the ball. More touches per shot for a centre-forward tends to highlight a player who is either a blunt attacker, is playing in a struggling side, or has a particular role within their team — it is clear that Firmino is the latter, with his role centred on link play and build-up. That’s where his strength lies.
The above chart highlights how, last season, Firmino was averaging nearly 22 touches per shot. This compares with 19 per shot for Sadio Mane and 15 per shot for Salah, who were more likely to shoot at goal than their Brazilian colleague when they had possession.
Alexandre Lacazette (21) and Gabriel Jesus (20) are two other forwards with a high number of touches per shot. These are players who tend to work hard on and off the ball for their respective teams, Arsenal and Manchester City, though it still feels as though Firmino is much more of a lynchpin to his side’s system than either of those two.
You could see that right from kick-off against United on Sunday, as Firmino pressed Victor Lindelof into clearing the ball out for a Liverpool throw-in. It happened so quickly that Sky Sports’ post kick-off graphic was still on the screen.
This was a tone-setting action from Firmino, who sensed Lindelof’s lack of confidence in that rushed clearance and would target the Swedish defender throughout the game.
A few minutes later, Firmino plays aggressor again and is found pressing from the front.
Harry Maguire is in possession below and as Salah rushes towards him, Firmino cuts off the passing route up to Fred in midfield while also keeping tabs on another of Maguire’s options, Scott McTominay, over his right shoulder. James Milner can be seen supporting the press.
Liverpool are forcing Maguire to play the ball square to centre-half partner Lindelof. Firmino’s pressing here is not only well-drilled and instinctive, it is clever. He blocks off the routes to midfield and they stay blocked once Maguire plays the pass, as he chases after Lindelof and Salah moves across.
Lindelof has no option but to clear it long.
Twenty-five seconds later, Maguire again gives the ball to Lindelof, who this time is pressed by Diogo Jota. In this next screengrab, we can see Firmino glancing over his shoulder at where McTominay is, almost sizing him up.
The ball bobbles up to Firmino and he outmuscles McTominay to head it down to fellow forward Jota…
…Firmino then sprints forward, taking McTominay and full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka with him. This leaves space for Milner to collect the ball from Jota.
Shortly after that, Andy Robertson, Liverpool’s left-back, brings the ball forward and then Jota plays it in to Firmino, who has dropped into space to collect the pass. Maguire has followed him, leaving space in behind for Salah down the middle…
…Salah passes the ball on to the supporting Naby Keita, who beats David de Gea to make it 1-0 to Liverpool with less than five minutes on the clock.
Firmino’s aptitude in the press and hunger to support his team-mates are two of his most enduring qualities now he’s 30 and into his seven season at Anfield.
The work he puts in is almost unquantifiable, particularly when it comes to his efforts off the ball. The way he blocks passing lanes and occupies areas to draw opposition players towards him is selfless and integral to the success of players like Salah and Mane.
Some might want more goals from him as a forward in such an attacking team, but Klopp is happy and Liverpool are the only unbeaten team left in the Premier League this season.
He helps co-ordinate Liverpool’s press, helps out in defensive situations at set pieces and combines brilliantly with his team-mates.
In the build-up to the third goal against United, Firmino drags three players towards him to free up space for Salah…
…and then makes a long run to the back post to offer a passing option and be on hand when Keita’s cross is turned in by Salah.
Though he didn’t touch the ball, Firmino also played a key role in the build-up to Salah’s hat-trick goal, which made it 5-0 to Liverpool early in the second half.
As McTominay’s pass drops for Fred in the centre circle, Firmino notices Keita is pressing the United midfielder and mirrors his response, pushing up towards Paul Pogba…
When Fred uses Pogba as an escape route, Firmino is already there, putting pressure on the Frenchman. Jordan Henderson is supporting him from the other side of Pogba, too…
…Firmino’s work allows Henderson to steal possession from Pogba and push forward, before playing a fine pass in for Salah to secure the match ball.
Even though the play is moving on and the ball is being threaded through to Salah, the final grab above shows Firmino is putting on the afterburners to try to support the attack.
Klopp is right. Firmino is a master of the false-nine role, and his performances will be key as Liverpool try to win back the Premier League title over the next seven months.
I can't help but think that Bobby's return to form has helped Mo move up to a higher level this season.
