Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino has been one of the stars of the club’s encouraging start to the season. Soccer AM’s Tubes caught up with the Brazilian to discuss his role in the team, the transition from being a defender in his youth, and life under Jurgen Klopp…

He's Liverpool's false nine. The man who scored twice against champions Leicester playing from the left but started May's Europa League final against Sevilla as a No 10. Jurgen Klopp's flexible friend. So perhaps it's not such a surprise that Roberto Firmino was once a defender.

But how did the switch come about? "It was a youth-team coach at CRB," Firmino tells Sky Sports, referring to the lower league Brazilian club where it all began for him. "I was playing in defence once. I dominated the game and even dribbled past their forwards a few times.

"I showed my quality and so he decided to play me as a playmaker. I then played on the wing for a while before becoming an attacking midfielder where I started scoring goals and realised that was the position for me."

Watch a sneak peek of Tubes' chat with Firmino Watch a sneak peek of Tubes' chat with Firmino

Not that he is fussy about his role. "I don't have a preference," he adds. "I just want to play which is what I enjoy. I always want to play regardless of the position. I always want to help the team and show what I can do."

He did that in his debut season at Anfield, finishing as the club's top scorer in the Premier League and making 49 appearances in all competitions. He looks well suited to the tempo of the English game too, with his 85 sprints in the 5-1 win over Hull being a club high this season.

"I feel that I've adapted to English football," he says. "I'm very happy to be here and to be working hard with the whole Liverpool team. I'm very open to new experiences and always want to learn more and more. I enjoy working hard."

Firmino is wearing the new adidas Stellar Pack ACE16+ Purecontrol

That's the sort of attitude that will endear him to his manager. Klopp is a coach who demands hard work from his players. But as well as the intensity, there is a playfulness to the German that makes him a popular figure with neutrals, too. So is he really like that?

"That's what he's like," confirms Firmino. "He's a good guy who shows his footballing passion. He does his job with love and enjoyment which we all like.

"Training is like a match for him. He's always 100 per cent focused every day leading up to matchday. He's always like that. The atmosphere that he creates for the group is incredible.

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"He's an excellent manager. He's the best I've worked with so far. Working for him is incredible. He has a good heart and he also has that German mentality.

"Having played in Germany, I've adapted to German football, too. The hard work that he does is for the team. We've made a good start and things are going well for us. It's always good to see our hard work be rewarded."

Liverpool's positive start to the season has seen them installed as second favourites to lift the Premier League title. It's creating a sense of excitement in the city that Firmino has detected himself, although he admits it's a new experience for him in his career.

Firmino says nothing is impossible for Liverpool under Klopp

"It's been incredible here compared with my former club in Germany, Hoffenheim," he says. "It was all calmer there. There's more passion here. Of course I knew Liverpool were a club filled with tradition. I'm really enjoying it. The fans always support us in every match which is amazing."

Firmino says that "We are Liverpool" is his favourite chant from the supporters, but will there be another song that the fans are singing come the end of the season? Could they be champions of England for the first time in more than a quarter of a century?

"Nothing is impossible," he says. "We're working hard to improve every day. Of course, Liverpool are a big club. We have always been up there fighting for the league. We will win the title if we work hard and deserve it. If we don't, we won't."

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