Liverpool completes £29m signing of Roberto Firmino

Liverpool's new £29million signing Roberto Firmino arrived at the club's Melwood training ground for the first time to prepare for his maiden season in England.

The Brazilian playmaker, a summer capture from Hoffenheim, posed with his new No 11 shirt as he got to grips with life on Merseyside.

Firmino did not travel with his new team-mates on the pre-season tour to the Far East and Australia as he was a central part of his native Brazil's Copa America side.

Instead he is bidding to get fit ahead of the new season by training alongside countryman Philippe Coutinho and outcasts Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Jose Enrique.

Firmino was snapped leaving his Liverpool hotel on his way to training on Wednesday morning after being spotted signing shirts for fans eager to get a glimpse of their new hero.

The 23-year-old will have to step into the shoes of Raheem Sterling, who left Merseyside under a cloud for Manchester City to the tune of £49million.

Reds boss Rodgers, however, feels his new capture is more than up to the task of injecting new verve into the Anfield attack.

He said: 'The flexibility of the player is important. He's an outstanding talent.

'He's got a wonderful touch and appreciation for the game, but the key when you watch him is the determination, how hard he works.

'So he can play on either one of the sides, he can play through the middle, or he can play in behind.

'He's accustomed to European football so that should make the transition a little bit easier for him. But he's a talented player who wants to score a goal.' 

Credit: SportsMail