Jurgen Klopp insists “it’s not in my interest” how many goals Roberto Firmino scores as he appreciates the effort and quality the Brazilian delivers for Liverpool.
Firmino scored twice in Liverpool’s 5-0 win over Swansea City on Boxing Day and has scored six goals in his last six league games, providing two assists in the process.
The unconventional No. 9 leads Liverpool’s frontline and his goals against the 20th-placed Swans on Tuesday took his season tally to 16 in all competitions.
“I am happy for all of the boys when they score but I couldn’t say how many he has or how many he has — I don’t care, to be honest, it’s not in my interest,” Klopp said.
“Roberto, I appreciate always his effort and his performance, that he scores twice, I’m happy about that but I could not say how many goals he has scored so far in the season because I feel he is always involved, he is always in and around the really dangerous situations for the opponent.
“First half he helped left full-back to right full-back, he was everywhere. In the end he scored two goals, so that’s nice.”
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold has described scoring his first Premier League goal as a “dream come true.”
The 19-year-old academy product graduate delivered Liverpool’s third in the Swansea rout when he drilled an effort that hit the crossbar and went in.
“Every lad dreams of scoring at the Kop end under the floodlights, and especially with it coming off the bar and going in!” he told the club’s official website.
“They can easily bounce back and that would have been a disappointment, but it [went] in and it was a dream come true.
“To be able to get the chance and to put it away for the team was really good and the result made it [more] special.
“I know a lot of the family [were] here and it would have been a really proud moment for them to see the goal go in.”
Liverpool now head into a busy period as they face Leicester City on Saturday and then Burnley 48 hours later before taking on Everton in the third round of the FA Cup on Jan. 5.
“[It’s] huge because there are two competitions, three games in quick succession, and we need to get the results and the points on board and that’s what we’ll look to do,” Alexander-Arnold added. “We’ll put this game behind us and push forward onto the game on Saturday.
“We know it’s important to reflect on the game, pick up some points to take forward for us, but also leave it behind us because there are plenty more games to come and they’re more important than what’s just happened.”
Glenn is ESPN FC’s Liverpool correspondent. You can follow him on Twitter: @GlennPrice94.