If Premier League defenders believe physical pressure can stop Roberto Firmino, the Brazilian has moved to assure them otherwise.

Liverpool’s No.11 needed several months to find his feet after signing for the club from Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim last summer, given what he considers the ‘much, much faster’ tempo here.

But Firmino has blossomed throughout 2016 and, with 16 goals in all competitions across the calendar year, is steadily becoming one of the most dangerous forwards in the country.

His work-rate is prolific and it is so often the industrious 25-year-old leading the pursuit of opponents when the Reds are not in possession of the ball.

The Brazil international credits his mental approach for the ability he has to combat and overcome players who appear to be physically stronger than him.

Firmino explains in the latest edition of the official Liverpool FC magazine: “Sometimes people see you as skinny and then they think ‘Oh, he is not a strong player.’

“But what matters is what you feel and what you do inside the pitch. No matter how skinny you are, the important thing is how you think psychologically.

“If you think you are strong, you are really strong and I class myself as a strong player. I’m not intimidated by powerful defenders.

“Maybe when you are younger, playing against huge centre-backs might cause some fear to you but when you are an older player, there is no more fear. You simply play as best you can and go about your work. That’s what you do.

“There is no fear at all.”

Liverpool produced an impressive response to two frustrating results on Wednesday night as they eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Middlesbrough.

Previously, Jürgen Klopp’s side had been on the receiving end of a late Bournemouth comeback in losing on the south coast and were then held to a home draw by West Ham United.

The win at the Riverside Stadium was a return to the kind of form which has established the Reds among the early front-runners in the Premier League this season.

And Firmino has offered an insight into how Klopp motivates his players when they experience a setback such as those before the trip to Boro.

He says: “If we don’t execute the tactics that he gives us in the correct manner, of course he is not going to be happy… he is going to be upset.

“If there are occasions when the manager is not happy, that shows that we have not done those things he has asked us to do, but that pulls us up too.

“It doesn’t happen too often but when it does, it has a good effect on us because we want the very best for the team and he wants the very best for our team.

“We have to follow what he wants and when we apply that then everyone is happy. We understand that every time that he shows his unhappiness, it is for the benefit of the team.”

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