Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has insisted that he was never considering dropping Roberto Firmino despite his Christmas misdemeanour.
As noted by ESPN FC, the Brazilian international was charged with drink driving on Christmas Eve, and now has a court date set for next month.
However, he started against Stoke City and with no disciplinary action forthcoming from the club, it looks as though he’ll be available for selection against Manchester City on New Year’s Eve too.
“No, because he was actually the best man in training,” Klopp told the media in his post-match press conference, when asked if he ever thought about leaving the 25-year-old out.
“There was no chance to leave him out. No chance. He trained outstanding and we didn’t think about it.”
Given that Firmino started and scored in his side’s 4-1 win over Stoke, it proved that Klopp made the right decision to include him as the Reds kept up the pressure at the top of the Premier League table.
Nevertheless, given there were even Liverpool supporters calling for him to be dropped on Tuesday shows just how seriously most people took his drink driving charge, although it doesn’t appear to have affected his performance.
It remains to be seen what happens at his court hearing and what punishment is dished out, and further if Liverpool opt to follow it up with their own action or if they allow it go unpunished and continue to select Firmino to spearhead their title charge.