Timo Werner loves £45m Liverpool gem and he's certainly not hiding it

Timo Werner has named Liverpool's Roberto Firmino as a player he rates highly, comparing him to Real Madrid's world-class Karim Benzema.

There is no one truly like Firmino. Our Brazilian is simply mad - in the best way possible. Transfermarkt values him at £45million but to Liverpool fans, he is priceless.

He's coming off arguably his worst season under Jurgen Klopp and while the few calls I've seen for him to be sold are wide of the mark, he needs competition or a new role in order for his talents to be best utilised.

Firmino is not a world-class striker. He doesn't play as a centre-forward for the Reds even if he wears the no.9 and I think if he's going to keep starting at Anfield, he needs to be played deeper than he currently is.

This season, Firmino got just 9 goals and 9 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions.

That said, he finished the season in fine form, scoring three goals and assisting two in his final five matches, helping his side to an unlikely third-place finish in the Premier League.

Speaking at a press conference Werner identified Firmino as a player he rates highly and compared him to Benzema.

"For me, [Benzema] is incredible with the ball, the way he dribbles, the way he moves, the way he finishes,” he said, per Goal. “I think he’s like Roberto Firmino at Liverpool, getting the ball early, distributing and still being quick with his qualities in the penalty area.”

It's difficult to talk about Firmino ahead of next season as it's unclear who will arrive in the attacking department this summer but hopefully with a rest and some healthy competition, he can get back to his 2017/18 best.

In that season, he got 27 goals and 17 assists, dovetailing seamlessly with Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and even Philippe Coutinho for half the season.

Had Liverpool won the Champions League that season, it would have gone down as a legendary campaign as far as the false nine role is concerned.

Firmino hitting that kind of form next season would essentially guarantee Liverpool the chance to win silverware as Virgil van Dijk's return from injury and Ibrahima Konate's arrival from RB Leipzig should see clean sheets become a regularity once more.