A difficult 2022/23 season for Liverpool is guaranteed to have an emotional ending.
Long-time forward Roberto Firmino will be leaving Anfield at season's end after eight years with the Reds following the expiration of his contract in June.
The Brazilian played a key part in the club's resurgence under Jurgen Klopp, winning a Champions League (2019) and Premier League title (2020).
The 31-year-old Firmino will, however, be playing for a new club next season after failing to sign a new contract with Liverpool.
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Why is Roberto Firmino leaving Liverpool?
Despite Liverpool offering Firmino a new deal beyond the 2022/23 season, the forward decided against extending his stay at Anfield.
The forward reportedly wants a "fresh start" having fallen down the pecking order at the Reds in recent years.
While injuries haven't helped Firmino's cause, he is no longer a starter for Liverpool with the likes of new arrivals Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez preferred up front.
Though Klopp wanted to retain his experienced goalscorer, the club was unable to guarantee him a starting place in the side moving forward with several young talents brought to Anfield.
Facing another season spent largely on the bench, Firmino will take his talents elsewhere for 2023/24 and told Klopp he wanted to end his time with Liverpool on a good note.
"Yes, he told me. Surprised? Yes, a little bit but I was not hit by surprise, actually. It’s a normal thing to do," Klopp said of Firmino's decision to leave Liverpool.
"It could go two ways and it was one. And I respect that a lot. It’s completely normal in this kind of long relationship that we have and Bobby has with the club and with most of the players and stuff like this, and with the fans of course.
"It’s pretty special, and I loved the reception he got when he came on against United [March 5]. He told me, and then the only other thing he said is, ‘Now I want to bring this wonderful story to a positive end.’"
A magnificent Bobby Firmino hat-trick against Arsenal, #OnThisDay in 2018 😍 pic.twitter.com/8JnjwRmmiu
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 29, 2022
How many goals has Firmino scored for Liverpool?
While likely to score a few more goals before his departure, Firmino has scored 108 goals for Liverpool across all competitions as of March 21, 2023.
Despite a solid return across eight seasons, the Brazilian won't crack the top 10 of the Reds' all-time top goal scorers before he leaves and is currently level at 17th on the list alongside John Barnes.
Liverpool's top scorer remains Ian Rush, who scored 346 goals for the Reds across 660 matches.
Firmino stats at Liverpool
| Season | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 | 49 | 11 | 11 |
| 2016/17 | 41 | 12 | 11 |
| 2017/18 | 54 | 27 | 17 |
| 2018/19 | 48 | 16 | 8 |
| 2019/20 | 52 | 12 | 13 |
| 2020/21 | 48 | 9 | 9 |
| 2021/22 | 35 | 11 | 5 |
| 2022/23* | 29 | 10 | 5 |
*Correct as of March 21, 2023
Roberto Firmino next club
With a strong track record in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, Firmino shouldn't be short on options when it comes to finding a new club in the summer.
As a free agent, a number of teams will likely sound out Firmino as they contemplate adding the Brazilian to their side.
Italian side Juventus was linked with a possible transfer last summer, and the club could still use his experience up front.
Fellow Serie A side Inter Milan have also been linked with interest in Firmino, with current striker Romelu Lukaku not expected to remain at the club in 2023/24.
Turkish giants Galatasaray are also reportedly eager to sign Firmino, according to Fanatik, with talks already underway.
While clubs from Saudi Arabia and the USA have been linked, too, Football Insider has claimed Firmino would prefer to remain in Europe.
