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Liverpool star Roberto Firmino is inspiring one Chelsea player claims Jamie Redknapp
Liverpool ace Roberto Firmino has had a good season, despite not being as prolific in front of goal.
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Liverpool star Roberto Firmino is inspiring Chelsea’s young players, according to former Reds player Jamie Redknapp. The pundit claims Frank Lampard is telling his players to watch how the Brazilian plays.
Firmino had another solid game against Bournemouth on Saturday, despite failing to find the scoresheet.
The Brazilian striker has failed to score at Anfield all season, but is still recognised as one of the leading forwards in the world.
Firmino has notched seven assists and eight goals in 29 Premier League games this year for the soon-to-be champions.
He is known for dropping deep and bringing other attackers into the game, and allowing space for the wide men.
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That is proven by Sadio Mane’s 14 league goals and Mohamed Salah’s 16 from 26 games, and apparently his influence is spreading across the league.
Writing in his Daily Mail column, Redknapp revealed that Lampard has told his players - especially Callum Hudson-Odoi - to watch how Liverpool play and how they bring in their wide players.
The Reds beat Bournemouth 2-1 on Saturday, with Firmino having a hand in the second goal.
And Redknapp explained that Firmino is - in his opinion - the “focal point” of Klopp’s team.
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“I spoke to Frank Lampard about this at Chelsea's training ground recently,” he wrote.
“Frank told me he'd been speaking with Callum Hudson-Odoi and said he'd told the 19-year-old: 'Look around, at Mane, at Salah, and ask why they are racking up numbers. If you want to play as a winger at a top club, you have to get numbers.'
“Then Hudson-Odoi scores a tap-in against Burnley by arriving at the back post, and Frank tells me it's probably his favourite goal this season! Why? Because his wide man was there, getting in the box at Turf Moor. Right now there is an onus on wingers to do that.
“That is the way the game has evolved, and Liverpool are at the forefront of this. Firmino comes short for the ball, creates space for others, connects attacks and creates opportunities for his team-mates who love to come inside.
“They don't stay stranded out wide, and we saw that against Bournemouth on Saturday. Mane won possession centrally off of Jack Simpson before playing the ball to Salah, who made up for a poor pass by scoring anyway to make it 1-1.
“For the winner, Virgil van Dijk made an interception on the halfway line and played a through-ball into Mane, who was central again. He then beat Aaron Ramsdale from the one on one.
“Jurgen Klopp will recognise the job that Firmino is doing, too, even if he isn't the one banging in the goals at Anfield himself.
“The Brazilian is the modern No 9 — selfless, and not purely relied upon for scoring. He is the focal point of Klopp's 4-3-3 system.”