Champions League

Roberto Firmino: 'I want to be like European greats'

By Jonny Whitfield, Reporter | 14 February 2018

Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino says that he hopes to emulate the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Lionel Messi in the Champions League.

Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino has said that he hopes to emulate the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Lionel Messi in the Champions League.

The Brazilian, who scored the second-highest number goals in the competition's group stages behind Ronaldo this year, has netted 20 times in total for the Reds this term.

Firmino has said that he wants to be known alongside the likes of Neymar and Messi, but only through focusing on his own game.

"Of course I want to be at their level - I am trying to give my maximum for the team and trying to be alongside these great players in Europe," the 26-year-old told reporters.

"But I only focus on playing a good game. If I play a good game then the goals will appear."

Firmino also highlighted how the team has adapted since the departure of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona.

"Coutinho is a great player and of course when he left that put a greater responsibility on everyone else to perform without him," the forward said. "But it is our job to deal with greater responsibility and I think we have done that so far."

Firmino and teammate Mohamed Salah hold the second-best attacking partnership in Europe this season, behind on goals scored by Paris Saint-Germain duo Neymar and Edinson Cavani.