Roberto Firmino managed to show Liverpool fans exactly what they will be missing next season by popping up with a goal on his final appearance for the Reds against Southampton on Sunday afternoon. The Brazilian forward is set to leave Liverpool upon the expiry of his contract in the summer, which will bring an end to his glittering eight-year spell at the club ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Firmino was in tears after making his final home appearance for Liverpool in their Premier League draw with Aston Villa last weekend, although there was still time for him to leave the Reds a parting gift by finding the back of the net against Southampton on the final day of the Premier League season. He managed to sit down two Saints defenders before firing home from close range after some clever footwork to get himself into a shooting position, with his goal sending Liverpool fans at St Mary's Stadium and around the world into raptures.
"That was a filthy goal from Firmino," said @ini_sayaal on Twitter. "Any clubs that will get him next summer is getting a flair player." @JohnParlanti added: "Such a classic Firmino goal."
"A farewell goal for Bobby Firmino. We're going to miss his elegance and intelligence upfront," wrote @siya_mahlaba, while @ElliotAbrahams2 said: "Missing most of the game today, but Firmino got a goal in his last Liverpool game and that's all I care about."
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A similar view was echoed by @marcorhythm, who quipped: "Firmino signing off his Liverpool career with a goal in his final match. Si senor!! Gonna miss that bright toothed Brazilian!"
Meanwhile, @tyschalter wrote: "God, I’m gonna miss Bobby Firmino. As others have said, he’s the player you’d want to be if you had the talent. Always scoring goals, always having fun, never not running, effortlessly looking cool as hell doing it."
Firmino's goal for Liverpool came just days after he was honoured with a private farewell event at Anfield, which was attended by Jurgen Klopp and his Reds team-mates alongside some of their families and children. Klopp even took to the stage to underline his admiration for Firmino and wish him well for the next stage of his career, with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona having been linked with his signature over the last few weeks.
In a video clip posted to Twitter, the Liverpool boss tells Firmino: "You are so football smart, in training sessions you are the first to get [understand] the exercise. It's like you saw it once: 'Ah, okay, go for it'. It's really special and it makes you the player you are, with all the technical stuff, but your football brain is incredible. That's all good and makes you the player you are."
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