Roberto Firmino To Get Fresh Opportunity After Liverpool Comeback And Five-Month ‘Nightmare’.
While Jordan Henderson managed to escape his challenging time in the Saudi Pro League in January, Roberto Firmino faced a different fate. Both players had left Liverpool to join clubs in the Gulf State last summer. Henderson moved to Al-Ettifaq with a controversial £12m transfer, while Firmino joined Al-Ahli on a Bosman transfer. Despite winning major honors at Anfield, they struggled in the Middle East, becoming marquee arrivals and club captains at their new teams.
Henderson, after reuniting with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, made 19 appearances for Al-Ettifaq, providing five assists but failing to score. However, Al-Ettifaq’s season took a downturn, winning only one of their 13 league and cup games since the end of September.
On the other hand, Firmino, who initially had a dream start with Al-Ahli, scoring a hat-trick on his debut and captaining the team to a 3-1 victory, faced struggles. Despite making 19 appearances for the club, he has not scored since his debut. Al-Ahli went on an eight-game unbeaten run after dropping Firmino, winning five matches and keeping seven clean sheets. The 32-year-old had limited playing time, with only 94 minutes across seven substitute appearances.
In the meantime, Firas Al-Buraikan, a Saudi international, took over the forward role at the expense of Firmino. Al-Buraikan scored six goals and provided three assists in the mentioned eight games, bringing his total at the club to nine goals from 14 appearances. Starting the season with Al-Fateh, the 23-year-old has accumulated 13 goals in 19 matches this season, contributing to Al-Ahli’s rise to third place in the table.
After losing his spot in the lineup, Firmino was linked to a potential move away from the Saudi club, with a return to the Premier League being speculated. Rumors suggested interest from Chelsea and Fulham during the winter transfer window, but none of these moves materialized.
When the Saudi transfer window closed on January 30, Firmino remained at the club, despite earlier reports indicating he had no intention of leaving Al-Ahli amid the speculation. After returning to Liverpool at the beginning of the year and observing his former teammates beat Newcastle United 4-2 on New Year’s Day, Firmino resumed training with Al-Ahli on January 15 following the mid-season break in the Saudi Pro League.
In contrast to the Brazilian, Allan Saint-Maximin and Gabri Veiga each started two friendlies, while Roger Ibanez started one. However, all four were included in the starting XI against Al-Nasr. Despite being unregistered for the first half of the season, Ezgjan Alioski has also been a starter in two friendlies.
As of now, Al-Ahli doesn’t have any additional friendly matches scheduled before their return to the Saudi Pro League against Al Akhdoud on February 16. By that time, both Al-Buraikan and Mahrez will have concluded their international duties.
It remains to be seen whether Firmino’s performances in the mid-season friendlies indicate an improvement in his fortunes, especially with his fellow forwards absent after a challenging first half of the season. Regardless of Firmino’s position in Al-Ahli’s hierarchy, he is committed to staying in Saudi Arabia until at least the end of the season.
Given that Al-Ahli finished the first half of the campaign in good form, the Brazilian, eager to end his goal-scoring drought when the Saudi season resumes, will aim to achieve success where Henderson faced challenges. If unsuccessful, he may join the list of players who have struggled after departing from Liverpool, and rumors about Firmino’s future may resurface soon.