Roberto Firmino denied Liverpool goal but may have been given something better

Blood Red: Match in Pictures | Sheffield Utd 0-2 Liverpool

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For a confidence-shot striker in need of a break, it was manna from heaven.

Through on goal against a team who had only kept once clean sheet all season, this was the perfect opportunity for Roberto Firmino to shake off his malaise.

Having scored just once this calendar year, Firmino has looked, for the most part, an overworked shell of the brilliant Brazilian who has lit up Anfield these past five or so years.

But when he was presented with a one-on-one against Aaron Ramsdale early on at Bramall Lane, Firmino eyes must have widened.

The megawatt smile, though, would not.

Instead, Ramsdale would make a decent save to deny Firmino and the wait went on.

He then thought it was finally over 49 minutes later when his shot deflected over the excellent Ramsdale to double Liverpool’s lead in Sheffield.

With confidence previously at its lowest ebb, this was the moment the 29-year-old needed.

Replays, however, would leave the infamous ‘Dubious Goals Panel’ to decree that it would not in fact be Firmino’s seventh goal of the campaign.

Regardless of how unfortunate you think that call is, the incident could still provide a fuller range of benefits for Liverpool’s No.9.

Suddenly, the shoulders were no longer hunched, the scowl was replaced by the smile and the frontman started to play with more freedom, knitting the play in the final third with some neat touches.

And given how much of a lift it appeared to visibly give Firmino, Jurgen Klopp might be minded to avoid telling his striker about the panel’s official ruling all together.

It is too soon to label the incident a turning point for Firmino, the false dawns have been seen before this season.

But if he can build on this going forward, just like his team-mates in the wider picture, Liverpool will certainly feel the benefit.

The goal drought, harshly, goes on for Firmino.

He’s now up to 642 minutes without one in all competitions, even if he didn’t necessarily know it when the final whistle blew at Bramall Lane.

But this game might just give Firmino – and Liverpool – something a lot more important than a notch in goals scored tally.