Roberto Firmino played a crucial role in Liverpool’s success, helping them secure their sixth Champions League trophy and their first English league title in 30 years. In his upcoming book, he discusses the bittersweet feeling of winning the Premier League without fans due to the Covid lockdown.
Liverpool had already conquered Europe and the world but still craved the Premier League title, especially the fans. They had a dominant period from the end of the 2017-18 season until March 2020.
The Premier League had eluded them since 1990, despite strong campaigns. In the 2019 season, they came close but couldn’t clinch the title. Firmino entered the 2019-20 season with great confidence and a determination to win the league.
The team made a pact to give their all in every game, and they started the season with incredible focus, winning match after match. They went on an unbeaten streak, winning 26 out of their first 27 games.
Their goal shifted from winning the league to winning it undefeated. However, a dip in form and some unexpected defeats, including a loss to Atletico Madrid, disrupted their momentum.
The pandemic further disrupted their journey to the title. Liverpool had to adapt to training routines and life without fans. When the Premier League resumed in June, they secured the title, but it wasn’t the celebration they had imagined.
The fans had waited 30 years for this moment but couldn’t be there to support their team. Firmino and his teammates celebrated, but it felt incomplete without the fans.
They finally lifted the trophy in an empty Anfield, a stark contrast to what it should have been. Firmino expressed how important the fans are to the players and how playing without them is a hollow experience.