Steve Bruce has compared Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino to his former Manchester United teammate and Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona.
Firmino starred in Liverpool's 3-1 victory over Bruce's Newcastle United side on Saturday, prompting yet more praise for Jurgen Klopp's side and particularly their dangerous front three.
Firmino played the part of creator while Mo Salah and Sadio Mane (twice) got on the scoresheet to cancel out Jetro Willems' early Magpies' goal.
And Bruce, who played alongside Cantona at United between 1992 and 1996 has noticed similarities between the French legend and the Liverpool No.9.
“He’s one that drifts into that little area and he naturally does it, where it’s so difficult for defenders to go,” said Bruce. “And his attitude and work-rate, it’s so important.
“Of course, their front three are as good as you are going to play against as a threat to you. The way they play with the intensity, the full-backs are only young and the delivery and presence they bring to the box you can see why they are champions of Europe.
“Cantona is as good a player as I’ve ever seen. I haven’t seen Firmino week in week out like that, but just when you see him here and what he gives them, it’s a perfect balance. And Cantona gave us that.
“Back in the day, we had (Ryan) Giggs and (Andrei) Kanchelskis who had frightening pace and stretched sides so much like Liverpool’s two, and Cantona dropped into that hole and people couldn’t get anywhere near them. That’s what you see with Firmino."
The comparison may not go down favourably with United fans who saw Cantona play, though the Reds must find a way of catching up with Liverpool who stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points — with Manchester City suffering a shock defeat to Norwich.
