Virgil van Dijk Hails Roberto Firmino As A Master Of The False Nine Position
Virgil van Dijk has hailed outgoing Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino as a master of the false nine position.
Firmino rounded off the goals in Sunday’s 7-0 rout for Jurgen Klopp’s side over Manchester United, barely 72 hours after news broke that he will leave Anfield this summer.
And Van Dijk believes the Brazil international’s eight years with the Reds have seen him not only become a club legend but also redefining the deep-lying forward role.
“I think that position of the false nine is Bobby Firmino’s,” admitted Van Dijk.
“He is the one that showed over the years how difficult it is for any other player to perform it but also for others to defend that.
“You can’t deny how important he was to the success that we had in the past but also for the players that still are here, for example Cody Gakpo, to learn from him each and every day.
“But as a human being as well, he’s a great guy and I wish him obviously all the best after the summer.
“He’s been so influential for this football club and he should definitely be remembered as one of the legends.”
Liverpool’s record defeat of United moved them to within three points of a Champions League qualification place heading into next Saturday’s trip to relegation-threatened Bournemouth.
