MICAH’S MOMENTS: Unique Roberto Firmino deserved his moment of joy in front of the Kop

Sometimes stars align in football and you end up with the kind of special moment that Roberto Firmino enjoyed in front of The Kop.

Firmino is going to leave Liverpool at the end of the season to pursue a new challenge and I’m gutted, really. He has been unbelievable for eight years; selfless, never looking for attention but being the glue that held everything together in Jurgen Klopp’s attack.

So I was delighted to see him complete the scoring against Manchester United. I couldn’t quite believe what I was watching as the goals went in, but the one he swept in was one of those moments when you couldn’t feel anything other than joy.

The biggest compliment I can pay to the Brazilian is that he has been so influential since he arrived from Hoffenheim that he has developed a position that is simply known as ‘The Firmino role’ — there had been ‘false nines’ before but he brought a different dimension to it. 

Liverpool have revamped their forward line over the last 12 months — with Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo joining Diogo Jota and Mo Salah — so they have plenty of options now but the reality is they will never be able to buy another Firmino.

The Brazilian star fired home Liverpool’s seventh as his side thrashed Man United 7-0 at Anfield

We can look at United another day — I’m not sure I would be able to leave the house had I been on the end of defeat like that — but this, for Klopp and Liverpool, was huge. They aren’t the force they were 12 months ago but, in form, they remain exceptionally dangerous.

They needed to land a result like this and it will go some way to banishing the memory of what happened against Real Madrid.

The whole place will build on this: the teams who are battling for the top four with them will all be unnerved.

John McGinn’s back to how I remember him

John McGinn joined Aston Villa in what was my final year as a footballer. I never got the chance to play a game with him but I worked with him on the training ground and it was immediately clear he had bundles of talent to go with great technical ability.

He was linked with Manchester United 18 months ago but he suffered a bit of a dip shortly after. 

I don’t know whether it was to do with too many changes of manager but, in recent weeks, he has looked like the John McGinn I know and is showing what he can do. He was excellent against Crystal Palace.

Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn was back to his best against Crystal Palace on Saturday

VAR decisions need speeding up

Technology is here to stay with football but let’s not ever kid ourselves that VAR is perfect. 

I watched Southampton score a goal against Leicester on 34:28 but there then followed a load of faffing that meant Carlos Alcaraz couldn’t fully celebrate until 36:38. 

Decisions must be quicker. 

Patient Reiss Nelson deserved his moment in the limelight

I did some work with the FA a couple of years ago that involved doing interviews at St George’s Park. I spent time with England’s Under 21 squad and one of the guys I dealt with was Reiss Nelson. What an impression he made. 

Full of enthusiasm and determination, he knew he had to be patient but he was convinced he had the talent. 

Reiss Nelson scored a huge injury time winner to hand Arsenal a 3-2 win against Bournemouth

An attitude like that takes you a long way in football and he got his reward with that beautiful strike to score the most important goal of Arsenal’s season. I wish him every success. 

Marco Silva’s a genuine Manager of the Year contender

Fulham’s pursuit of a European place sees them face Brentford tonight and the fact I am writing those words tells you what an outstanding job Marco Silva has done. 

I had Fulham being relegated at the start of the season and didn’t think it would even be close. What do I know! 

Silva has been exceptional and is vying with Mikel Arteta for Manager of the Year. 

Fulham head coach Marco Silva should be viewed as a genuine Manager of the Year contender