LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 22, 2020: Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leicester City FC at Anfield. The game was played behind closed doors due to the UK government’s social distancing laws during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

James Milner delighted as “unluckiest man alive” Roberto Firmino finally scores

James Milner described Roberto Firmino as the “unluckiest man alive” as he hit the post in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Leicester, but was left “delighted” that he then scored.

Firmino’s header in the victory over Leicester on Sunday night was his first for the Reds since October 24 and only his second of the season; in 2020, he has struck six times.

This has led to questions over the striker’s value to Liverpool, though Jurgen Klopp has been quick to refute this, stressing the overall importance of his No. 9.

But nevertheless, as Firmino rose to power in Milner’s corner late on against the Foxes, the pride was palpable among the manager and his players.

Milner reflected this in his post-match interview with Sky Sports, labelling him the “unluckiest man alive” having hit the post and seen another chance land fractionally on the goalline earlier in the game.

“Bobby, I don’t know what he’s been doing, but he’s the unluckiest man alive for the first 80 minutes of the game,” Milner said.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 22, 2020: Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leicester City FC at Anfield. The game was played behind closed doors due to the UK government’s social distancing laws during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

“But he deserved his goal, he was brilliant tonight.

“[After his goal] I just said to him I think I would have been angrier than him [if it didn’t happen], it was just one of those nights for him.

“I thought he was outstanding and just couldn’t get his goal, so I’m delighted he got it. Thoroughly deserved, I thought he was brilliant.”

Klopp later told Sky Sports: “What people say about him is just ridiculous, it’s just because they don’t have anything else to talk about.”

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 22, 2020: Liverpool’s Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leicester City FC at Anfield. The game was played behind closed doors due to the UK government’s social distancing laws during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Milner himself was one of the candidates for Man of the Match at Anfield, making his first Premier League start of the season at right-back due to the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

With Sky Sports’ Geoff Shreeves noting how Leicester targeted Milner’s flank as James Justin and Harvey Barnes pushed forward, the veteran conceded that he “would as well!”

“But you do the job you can,” he explained.

“Neco came on and did very well, slipped straight in and made some great challenges and made a great contribution.

“I think we’re blessed to have a great squad of players, everybody’s pushing each other, people are playing wherever they’re asked and doing a great job, and that’s because we’re very lucky to have a great squad of players.”

He added: “It’s nice for me to start the game, I want to start as many games as I can.

“I know that’s probably not going to be every game these days with me getting slightly older, but whenever I’m asked I’ll do the job I can.

“I’m always delighted to just contribute and it’s that we got that win.

“There’s a long break between [now and] the next international break, it’s hard to get that rhythm early in the season when you’ve got all the international breaks.

“So it’s important to play a very tough team and get a win to set us on a run hopefully now going into this busy period.”