Ronaldinho: Firmino 'as good as Iniesta and Liverpool must build team around him'

The 24-year-old Brazilian netted just one goal in his first 23 appearances in all competitions, prompting a number of discussions about his fitness, his talent, and indeed whether he is a forward or a midfielder.

He has turned that round in style in his last few games, however, scoring four goals, recording an assist and picking up two man-of-the-match awards. And he's now had extravagant backing from one of the greats of the game: his fellow Brazilian Ronaldinho.

"I didn't ever question if he would be a great player for Liverpool, I knew that he would be," said the World Cup and Champions League winner in an interview in the Daily Mirror. "He's one of the best at what he does in the world. He's in the same class as Ozil, [David] Silva, Iniesta, and all the other great players who play that role.

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"He's the player that I'm sure Klopp will build his new Liverpool team around.

"Klopp is one of the best coaches in the world, he will know that Liverpool need better players, he will know that Firmino will need better players around him to get the most out of his game.

"I'm sure when he joined Liverpool, Klopp was promised he could bring in his own players, and with Firmino at the centre of the team, there's no reason Liverpool cannot challenge once again."

[TWEETS: 'Firmino has to be a Ballon d'Or winner']

Those are some big words from Ronaldinho, but the Firmino that Liverpool fans have seen of late looks to be living up to that billing - even if he and his team-mates failed to impress as they stumbled along against Stoke City in the League Cup semi-final second leg earlier this week.

Will he prove to be as good as Iniesta, Silva or Ozil? That's a very big ask - Iniesta has won man of the awards in World Cup, European Championship and Champions League finals.

And right now? With their topsy-turvy season constantly throwing up dead ends and false dawns, Liverpool fans would probably settle for Firmino to be as good as Riyad Mahrez...