Roberto Firmino is emerging as one Premier League best player

Somehow, Roberto Firmino's ongoing emergence as arguably Liverpool's best and most influential player has been largely overlooked over the last 12 months, but after his stunning performance against Leicester City at the weekend the secret is finally starting to get out. While most of the attention is drawn to

Philippe Coutinho or Daniel Sturridge, Firmino has made the most of others hogging the limelight by quietly going about the business of being effective and productive.

Aside from Sturridge, he is Liverpool's best finisher. Aside from Coutinho, he is Liverpool's most creative player. Even before he had opened the scoring on Saturday, the Brazilian had already dazzled Anfield with the kind of touch play for which Mesut Ozil is renowned.From taking dropping balls out of the sky with his instep with maximum ease and minimum fuss, to threading short passes through gaps to open up spaces in and around the penalty area, Firmino's technique means his lack of searing pace does not hinder him as it does others who operate in a similar role.

On this very day last year, Firmino's troubled start to his Liverpool career was laid bare when he failed to make any impact whatsoever in a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United. Taken off after 65 minutes having been deployed in an orthodox winger's role that did not suit him, Firmino's struggle to both establish himself in English football and to convince Brendan Rodgers of his quality was there for all to see. What has changed since then? The most obvious difference is Jurgen Klopp, who knew him from the Bundesliga and rated him highly enough to make him a focal point of the Liverpool team. The turning point came when Firmino was used as a false number nine against Chelsea in Klopp's third game in charge, a 3-1 win over Chelsea, and his manager continues to find a place for him in Liverpool's biggest games, even at Sturridge's expense on occasion.

Another more recent improvement has been prompted by the arrival of Sadio Mane whose pace, directness and constant involvement frees up the kind of space that Firmino thrives in. That was clear once again as Liverpool ran amok against Leicester, with Firmino providing further evidence in support of his manager's theory that the club's transfer committee had produced an outstanding piece of business when they signed the 24-year-old from Hoffenheim in June 2015. There is still room for improvement, though, as there are periods in games when Firmino can be detached from the action but such passages are becoming less frequent as Klopp continues to get much more out of him than his predecessor had been able to.