Liverpool continued their charge up the table on Saturday as they cruised to a resounding 5-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
The Reds dominated the game from the word go, although they had to bide their time before finally breaking the deadlock at the half-hour mark. From thereon out, Jurgen Klopp’s men showed just what they can do when in full flow as they scored five goals over the final hour of the game, with Glenn Murray grabbing a consolation goal for the hosts.
Crucially for the Merseyside club, Roberto Firmino was back among the goals on Saturday, looking in menacing form throughout the game, and fans lauded his efforts post full-time whistle.
FIRMINO for Liverpool this season:
Goals: 11
Assists: 516 goal involvements, and it’s still December. Bobby is finally achieving the stats that a player with his quality deserves to have, so that people don’t underrate him anymore. pic.twitter.com/3fwMBXixCr
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStat) December 2, 2017
Firmino only has two less goals this season than £90m Romelu Lukaku.
And consider everything he does when he isn’t scoring – incredible.
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) December 2, 2017
10 goals for Roberto Firmino this season ? pic.twitter.com/QHXfRiPCpC
— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) December 2, 2017
Bobby Firmino after spotting a Brighton defender on the ball? pic.twitter.com/C2ERNhiv6X
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) December 2, 2017
Roberto Firmino has been absolutely outstanding once again today. He’s the engine that makes this Liverpool team tick.
— Oliver Bond (@Oliver__Bond) December 2, 2017
Firmino is butter; you can put bread together, with bits in the middle, but it’s not a proper sandwich.
Get some Firmino on that bread, and all of a sudden everything links together.Firmino’s the butter to our attack – spread about in the middle.
— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) December 3, 2017
As Liverpool fans we should (including myself) stop saying that Firmino is underrated
He is rated by 99% of our fan base, so whoever does not rate him is simple either a manc in disguise or confused football with cricket
— Ben • (@Riddock__) December 3, 2017
Funny really, cos Bobby Firmino gets a lot of criticism for not scoring enough, yet he’s still, for me, easily the most underrated forward in the league. 11 goals, 5 assists for a third of the season. Not exactly terrible, is it.
— Captain Arsebiscuits (@caparsebiscuits) December 2, 2017
But, it was the Philippe Coutinho show on the night, with the Brazilian having a hand in four of the five goals, and the fans raised a toast to the Brazilian.
Philippe Coutinho vs Brighton:
5 successful dribbles
1 big chance created
1 goal
2 assistsBrazilian magic. ?? pic.twitter.com/j9NTd1A4dT
— max riegel (@max_riegel) December 2, 2017
Philippe Coutinho is incredible? pic.twitter.com/O174hRyLUk
— Anfield Express (@AnfieldExpress) December 2, 2017
Philippe Coutinho has a goal or assist every 62 minutes in the Premier League this season. He’s a midfielder…
— Steven Gerrard (@Gerrard8FanPage) December 2, 2017
Counting Coutinho’s FPL points be like pic.twitter.com/EeCvMHvnSZ
— Faizal Rosly (@ijaicool) December 2, 2017
Coutinho casually breaking ankles pic.twitter.com/yqO9r808Tp
— The Anfield Kop (@LFCfootball2) December 2, 2017
Donald Trump can build the biggest wall in the world but give Philippe Coutinho 10 yards and a football and he’ll just go under it
— Ü (@ThoseScouseLads) December 2, 2017
Coutinho taking souls earlier today……☠️☠️☠️pic.twitter.com/i1x5hqFYt3
— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) December 2, 2017
How much millions will Barcelona have to pay to get Coutinho? pic.twitter.com/XowJ7Wxldm
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) December 2, 2017
Go on @FCBarcelona, ask how much we want for Coutinho now… pic.twitter.com/PrrlODmaVc
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) December 2, 2017
This is one of Coutinho’s finest ever performances for Liverpool. Levels above anyone else on the pitch. An absolute masterclass.
— Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) December 2, 2017
Coutinho for me is the MOTM today. Good thing is we have started to win the games which we should be winning easily. We dropped points in games like these last season. Up the mighty Reds. YNWA
— Udit Sharma ⓁⒻⒸ (@uditsharma01) December 2, 2017
Don’t you dare sell Coutinho @LFC
— WTK (@wutangklavan) December 2, 2017