“If you watch the game, you don’t see Firmino. If you watch Firmino, you see the whole game.” Many Reds’ favourite player of the Jurgen Klopp-era and a true Liverpool Legend, it’s been confirmed our number nine will finally depart at the end of the season. There’ll not be a dry eye in the house when the best in the world finally leaves the Anfield stage, but so begins the final act. Whilst it does hurt and it’s the start of the long goodbye, there’s no farewell for anyone just yet.
No farewell to the samurai-esque top-knot, the crazy curls that grew during lockdown when the barbers were closed, the blonde highlights that dominated at times or the red hair after 19 … not just yet …
No farewell to the original of that three, the one whose celebrations that Sadio liked to copy such as the Tommy gun, or the one who provided Salah with an incredible array of backheels against the likes of Newcastle and Southampton … not just yet …
No farewell to the man who embarrassed visitors from the capital like the four Arsenal defenders who were sat down as part of that hat-trick or Tim Sherwood who couldn’t see the danger for Spurs in the last-minute corner as we came back from Covid … not just yet …
No farewell to the man who provided us with the karate roundhouse celebration, the samba shuffle with Coutinho, the one eye covered, the stuttering shuffle, the loco fingers … not just yet …
No farewell to one of us that gave Pep and his staff nightmares behind the scenes, got the winner in the second leg at The Etihad or cleverly nudged John Stones at just the right time … not just yet …
No farewell to the man that lead our European charges as Soldado was sent for an echo in the Europa, whose name helped Jamie Webster make Madrid bounce, the Allianz rock after we scored three or won it against the world in extra time … not just yet…
No farewell to Jurgen Klopp’s true favourite, the record appearance maker under him, the player he said was always world-class and the man who introduced him to the same dentist … not just yet…
No farewell to the comedic timing of a player that made us all laugh at the famous Chaokoh advert or the person who knew what his visits or virtual chats at schools or Alder Hey meant to the families of those Reds … not just yet…
Whether qualification for the Champions League is eventually secured or whatever new absences, injuries or returns occur, there’ll always be a touch of sadness when we look back in the future on this season. Bobby will leave us at the end of this season…but not just yet. The long and hard goodbye begins before the painful farewell. Enjoy the man and the legend whilst he’s still around.
