Roberto Firmino in tears over reception from Liverpool fans against Manchester City and claims it bolstered Reds’ team spirit

ROBERTO FIRMINO has revealed his eyes filled with tears at the welcome from Liverpool fans ahead of their 3-0 Champions League win over Manchester City.

The Brazilian frontrunner believes the red-raw emotion set the tone for one of the most rousing European performances ever at Anfield.

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Mo Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane struck by the 31st minute as City were overwhelmed by fierce, fearless attacks.

Liverpool then defended with as much fervour as their supporters had shown to keep a clean sheet.

Much of the pre-match focus has been on cans and bottles thrown at the City bus by Reds' fans, amid hostile and sometimes ugly scenes.

That has led to four separate charges from Uefa.

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But Firmino has now explained how the fervour of fans helped fire up Jurgen Klopp's men.

He told ESPN Brasil: "When we were on the bus I was reading about how the reception was going to be.

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“I must say, it filled my eyes full of tears. It was very moving for me.

"It only gives us more strength to fight on the field and win the games."

Liverpool certainly began with an intensity and purpose that even expert motivator Klopp could only have dreamed of.

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And Firmino was ecstatic at how the Reds robbed Premier League leaders City of their usual swagger.

The 26-year-old, who has 19 caps, said: "I think we played really well."

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After their three-goal blast and regularly threatening on the counter-attack, Liverpool protected keeper Loris Karius well enough to earn what could be a vital shut-out.

City would have been confident of overturning a 3-1 deficit in next Tuesday's second leg.

But instead Pep Guardiola's Treble hunters were left with a 3-0 margin that seems and sounds so much worse.

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