Liverpool Boss Klopp ‘Surprised’ by Firmino’s Decision to Leave

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring the 7-0 goal during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United in Liverpool, Britain, 05 March 2023. (EPA)
Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring the 7-0 goal during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United in Liverpool, Britain, 05 March 2023. (EPA)
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Liverpool Boss Klopp ‘Surprised’ by Firmino’s Decision to Leave

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring the 7-0 goal during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United in Liverpool, Britain, 05 March 2023. (EPA)
Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring the 7-0 goal during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United in Liverpool, Britain, 05 March 2023. (EPA)

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said he was "a little bit surprised" by Roberto Firmino's decision to leave the club at the end of the season but wants to end the Brazilian forward's eight-year Anfield career on a high.

Firmino, whose contract expires in June, has helped Liverpool win the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Club World Cup among other major honors since joining them from Hoffenheim in June 2015.

"Surprised? Yes, a little bit - it could go two ways and it went one. And I respect that a lot," Klopp told reporters on Friday. "But it's completely normal in this kind of long relationship that we have and Bobby has with the club.

"He told me and then the only other thing he said is, 'Now I want to bring this wonderful story to a positive end'."

Firmino, 31, has scored 108 goals in more than 350 games in all competitions and was part of a potent attacking trio with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who left for Bayern Munich last June, that helped Liverpool win the 2019-20 league title.

"Sadio, Bobby and Mo together were for quite a while one of the best front three in world football," Klopp added.

Firmino scored seven times in 13 Premier League games before the World Cup break but missed two months following the restart after sustaining a calf injury and has been restricted to five substitute appearances since his return in February.

He came off the bench to score Liverpool's final goal in last Sunday's 7-0 hammering of rivals Manchester United.

"I loved the reception he got when he came on against United," Klopp said. "He is completely here and completely committed, and that's all we need to know.

"There's no time for a goodbye or whatever in this moment, there's enough time for that later in the season. He's one of these players that even when he would come with an opposition team, people would be really happy to see him."

Liverpool, fifth in the league with 42 points, travel to bottom club Bournemouth on Saturday.



PSG Coach Luis Enrique Warns against Complacency in Club World Cup Final

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique speaks to media at a press conference at MetLife Stadium on Friday. FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique speaks to media at a press conference at MetLife Stadium on Friday. FRANCK FIFE / AFP
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PSG Coach Luis Enrique Warns against Complacency in Club World Cup Final

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique speaks to media at a press conference at MetLife Stadium on Friday. FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique speaks to media at a press conference at MetLife Stadium on Friday. FRANCK FIFE / AFP

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique on Friday urged his team to round off the best season in the club's history by winning the Club World Cup, but warned not to expect Sunday's final against Chelsea to be a "simple formality".

"This is absolutely not going to be a simple formality," the Spanish coach insisted, refusing to accept that PSG are necessarily overwhelming favorites to lift the trophy at MetLife Stadium despite their fearsome form.

"I have analyzed Chelsea. They have a great squad. Enzo Maresca is doing a great job and I really like what he is doing," Luis Enrique said. "They are a very complete team."

PSG can complete a remarkable clean sweep of trophies with victory, having won a French league and cup double before claiming the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history at the end of May.

"We want to finish this historic season in the best possible way," said the former Barcelona coach.

"Now we must open the next chapter, win more major trophies. We want to make more history by winning on Sunday."

PSG were spellbinding at times in their 4-0 victory against Real Madrid in the semi-finals and also put four goals past Atletico Madrid and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami during the competition.

"But we have to win this game to round things off. However, in a final there is always a winner and a loser, and that doesn't mean the loser has necessarily done anything wrong," Luis Enrique added.

"We will lose again at some point, because that is what happens in top-level football, but I think the path is clear for everyone."

This is the first edition of the 32-team Club World Cup, and whoever wins on Sunday will be world champions for four years, with the next tournament scheduled to take place in 2029.

"We are aware of the importance of this match, that it is a golden opportunity to be in a World Cup final," said captain Marquinhos.

"This only happens every four years, and we don't know where we will be in four years."