Liverpool fan favourite Roberto Firmino begins new career as he leaves football

Former Liverpool footballer Roberto Firmino is currently the pastor of an evangelical church they built in Maceio, Brazil, alongside his wife Larissa Pereira.

Firmino ended an amazing eight years with Liverpool by leaving in the summer of last year.

With 362 games played, the 31-year-old recorded 111 goals and 75 assists with the Reds.

Brazilian news outlet Globo reports that the football player and his wife are now preachers. In an Instagram statement, the couple said:

A longing has burned in our hearts ever since our first contact with Christ. We want everyone to experience the love that has come to us. We now have a new calling and obligation: to serve as pastors for God.

The attacker from Brazil was a member of Liverpool’s attack, which was regarded as one of the deadliest in all of football.

Alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, he established a strong relationship that helped the Reds win both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Firmino was the focal point of Klopp’s Liverpool attack.

The Brazilian forward rose to prominence with the Reds under the direction of former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. His contributions to the squad and performances won him over many Anfield supporters.

Since moving to the Middle East, Firmino has not been able to get back to his previous level of play; in 34 games, he has managed nine goals and seven assists.

Liverpool supporters still admire the 32-year-old forward, who they have missed greatly since his heartbreaking exit from the team.

Klopp held the player in the highest respect and turned to him whenever the team appeared to be struggling.

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Arne Slot provided updates on the preseason needs and the Ipswich Town opener

Liverpool received their 2024-25 league fixture list on Tuesday morning, with the new manager’s tenure beginning at Portman Road on August 17 against promoted side Ipswich Town.

That game will be followed by Brentford’s visit to Anfield a week later, Slot’s first competitive home game in charge of the Reds, before a match against Manchester United at Old Trafford to cap off the first month of top-flight activity.

Slot confirmed to Liverpoolfc.com that his team’s game with Ipswich will begin at 12.30pm. According to what I know, Jürgen [Klopp] grumbled a lot about this, so they probably thought, with Jürgen out, we’ll place them at 12.30 again!

“No, it’s not a typical 12.30 since it’s not after a game in Europe. I look forward to it. A promoted squad, therefore it will be significant for them as well.

“I think every team might prefer a home game to start with, but we’re going to face Ipswich and we are looking forward to that.”

However, Slot will oversee his first pre-season in charge of the club when his senior group returns to Merseyside next month.

Liverpool’s preparations will begin at the AXA Training Centre, followed by a travel to the United States for friendlies against Real Betis, Arsenal, and Manchester United.

Slot’s first competitive encounter at Anfield is slated for August 24, when Thomas Frank’s Brentford will go north from the metropolis.

“Every new club you go to, and it’s your first home game, it’s special,” he said of the opportunity.

“I remember it being special at Feyenoord, and I expect it to be just as special here in Liverpool. But, as I already stated, the first item I’ll look at is our first training session, followed by all subsequent sessions and games.

“We have to take this really seriously to be the best possible team we can be at the first game at Ipswich and the second game, the home game against Brentford.”

On his enthusiasm about visiting Anfield, he added: “Yeah, but I think everyone would tell you that in football, you go game by game, and the first and most important one is Ipswich.”

“But if I say this and the players would listen to this, they would get the wrong impression of me, because the friendly games are really important for us to be in the best possible position for the Ipswich game.”