Rafiki bora wa Mane! Super-sub Firmino anaonyesha hana nafasi katika Super Cup kurudi

The Reds started poorly without the Brazilian frontman, highlighting just how important he is to Jurgen Klopp's European champions.

Don’t ever doubt Roberto Firmino’s importance to this Liverpool team.

The Reds remain the Kings of Europe, coming from behind to beat Chelsea on penalties in the UEFA Super Cup, after a pulsating 2-2 draw in Istanbul.

But it took the Brazilian’s arrival to get them back on track, after a dreadful opening 45 minutes at Vodafone Park.

Mane’s best friend? Firmino certainly brought the best out of Sadio here. Liverpool’s No.10 scored twice, but both goals were made by their brilliant No.9.

Talk about making an impact off the bench. Jurgen Klopp’s side had looked all at sea in an error-strewn first-half, trailing to Olivier Giroud’s goal and lucky not to fall further behind before the break.

The introduction of Firmino at half-time, though, changed everything. 

Within three minutes of the restart, he’d laid on Liverpool’s leveller for Mane in typically-classy fashion. The European champions, reinvigorated, would have won it before the end of 90 minutes were it not for Kepa Arrizabalaga’s wondrous double-save, which denied first Mohamed Salah and then Virgil van Dijk.