Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Roberto Firmino is in contention to make his final appearance at Anfield on Saturday against Aston Villa.
Fimrino, 31, will leave Liverpool in June when his contract expires, ending an eight-year stay on Merseyside. The Brazilian forward is sure to go down as a modern-day legend and proof at his status was on show during Monday's rampant 3-0 win away to Leicester.
For 11 minutes straight, Liverpool's travelling fans belted out his 'Si Senor' chant in a tribute to their soon-to-be departing star. Firmino heard it from the bench and couldn't hide a smile before thanking supporters in front of the away end after full-time.
Having been sidelined with a muscle injury since mid-April, the former Hoffenheim hero didn't feature in the game but travelled with the Reds squad for their third-to-last match of the season. On Saturday, Liverpool host in-form Aston Villa in their final home game of the campaign and Firmino is set to get an emotional send-off for his outstanding contribution since arriving for £29million in 2015.
The 31-year-old - who's been linked with a free transfer to Barcelona, Inter Milan and Napoli - could also feature in the game, with Klopp revealing after the emphatic victory at Leicester: "I think he has a chance of playing. We drive home tomorrow and it will be a day off - not for him, but the others - and then Wednesday he will be in team training, that is my information.
"We have to see. The Saturday game is a super difficult game for plenty of reasons. Probably farewell around the game for a few players, and then playing for absolutely everything against the second or third best team in the Premier League for the second part of the season. That's super challenging."
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Klopp did, though, reiterate: "In the middle of everything, we have to win the game. But around that, we want to show the respect and appreciation and love we feel for not only Bobby but all the boys who will leave in the summer. It will be a special day with a difficult game in between. We have to make sure we can do both."
As for Firmino's heartwarming reception, the Liverpool manager beamed: "It was so cool. I've never seen anything like that (for somebody who wasn't playing)."
After Monday's win, which boosted the Reds' hopes of a top-four finish, Firmino wrote on Instagram: "Well done boys… What a great win tonight. I'm so grateful to God for the unbelievable affection and love with me and my family. Thank you all Reds. #YNWA."
Saturday will certainly be an emotional day at Anfield.
