It was a contest which served to reinforce Roberto Firmino’s value to Liverpool.

There were loads of positives for Jurgen Klopp to take from a record-breaking night in Maribor, but the sight of the Brazilian attacker being back to his brilliant best was arguably the most important.

Firmino had endured a tough spell. Left out of the side at Newcastle, the Reds’ No 9 went into the Champions League clash in Slovenia without a goal in five outings.

The debate over Liverpool not having a 25-goal a season marksman had been re-ignited by the stalemate with Manchester United where dominance went unrewarded.

Yet Firmino delivered a timely reminder of why Klopp puts so much faith in him to lead the line. He tormented Maribor’s defence before the manager showed mercy and took him off for the final quarter. The standing ovation afforded to him by the travelling Kop was richly deserved.

(Image: (AP Photo/Darko Bandic))

Having tucked away the opener from Mo Salah’s cross, Firmino intelligently switched play in the build up the second goal and then created the third with a neat pass for Salah.

He could have bagged the fourth, only for Salah to get the final touch, and he helped himself to the fifth with a classy glancing header from Philippe Coutinho’s cross. Not a bad night’s work.

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“It was clear Roberto would be back,” Klopp said at Melwood on Friday afternoon.

“That’s how it is. You cannot change your mind every day. If a player plays very often and has not a good game, it’s pretty normal.

“When Roberto is not good, he’s not bad. He’s just not at his best. He’s still working hard.

(Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

“He played fantastic. His first goal, we were already this season 10 or 12 times in a similar situation and we took the shot.

“There wasn’t a lot of space between the keeper and the defender for the pass from Mo, but we were relaxed enough in these situations to make the right decisions.”

Firmino, whose double against Maribor took his tally for the season to six goals, is so crucial to Klopp’s game plan.

The manager spoke about how Liverpool counter-pressed in midweek better than they have done all season and Firmino set the tone. He refused to give Maribor’s backline a moment’s peace as he repeatedly forced them to cough up possession.

“One of Roberto’s biggest strengths is that he never switches off,” Klopp said.

“He is always in the game. He is furious around these situations - from behind, always running, always following, making little contacts on the ball which makes life for everyone a bit easier.”

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Firmino isn’t a No 9 who stays on the shoulder of the last defender. Klopp demands that he drops deep or wide at times. He links play and is a real creative force. His movement off the ball opens up space for others.

Klopp simply doesn’t have anyone else who can perform that role to anywhere near the same level. No wonder Liverpool are keen to tie Firmino down to a new long-term contract.

When Salah asked for his No 11 shirt last summer, Firmino was only too happy to oblige. It was typical of his selflessness. He ended up signing 2,000 shirts with his name and former number on the back which were posted back to fans.

Firmino isn’t your archetypal Liverpool No 9 but when he performs like he did in Maribor there really is no-one better for Klopp’s blueprint.