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Peter Crouch has criticism for one Liverpool player despite win over RB Leipzig

Will Butcher

Wed 17 February 2021 13:15, UK

that Roberto Firmino needs to “step up” following Liverpool’s excellent 2-0 Champions League win against RB Leipzig on Tuesday night in Hungary – criticising the Brazilian for failing to score goals.

Liverpool produced an excellent win despite some tricky form of late, as Sadio Mane and Mo Salah took advantage of some slack Leipzig defending. It was a brilliant performance, but Liverpool were certainly helped by some Leipzig mistakes.

Firmino, 29, has come under criticism of late – given that he has managed just six goals in 34 appearances. He provided a moment of magic against Leicester on Saturday for Mo Salah’s effort, but his lack of goals is a concern.

Certainly, ex-Liverpool striker Crouch believes the Brazil international needs to begin to add more goals to his game and urged the former Hoffenheim attacker to start improving – following the Champions League win over Leipzig.

“Firmino needs to step up a little bit. I thought he played well tonight, but it would be nice for him to get on the score sheet a bit more,” Crouch told BT Sport’s coverage of the win, which sees Liverpool sit in the driving seat ahead of the second leg.

TBR’s view – Firmino clearly adds quality to Liverpool

He connects the midfield and attack, he hands ammunition to Salah and Mane – but six goals in 34 games is nowhere near good enough for a centre-forward or a false nine in a Liverpool side that are fighting for top-four football.

Firmino has overall stats of 84 goals in 278 appearances for Liverpool – a goal in just over every three games. This season, he is averaging one every six. Simply, he needs to start scoring more, or he will find Diogo Jota replaces him when he is fit again.