11 August 2023 , 21:59
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Former Liverpool star Roberto Firmino enjoyed a dream debut in the Saudi Pro League, but it was a night to forget for ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Firmino and Mendy were both making their debuts for Al Ahli in the first game of the new season against Al Hazm, along with Riyad Mahrez, Allan Saint-Maximin, Franck Kessie and Roger Ibanez.
Like several Saudi clubs, Al Ahli have spent big this summer raiding players from European clubs with over £100m spent on Mendy, Mahrez, Saint-Maximin, Kessie and Ibanez. Firmino, meanwhile, was signed on a free transfer after rejecting a contract extension at Liverpool.
And it did not take long for the Brazilian to make an impact, heading home the opening goal inside six minutes. He added a second from close range mere minutes later, before Al Hazm got back in the game early on in the second half courtesy of a Mendy mistake.
After receiving the ball from one of his defenders, Mendy attempted to play a first-time pass. However, Al Hazm's Vinicius Goes Barbosa de Souza intercepted the ball and brilliantly lobbed Mendy from distance.
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Despite Mendy's blunder, Firmino wrapped up the win for Al Ahli in the 72nd minute as he fired home his third goal on the rebound after his initial effort was saved by goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen.
The 31-year-old is clearly still an excellent player and his performance on debut for Al Ahli illustrates exactly why Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wanted him to sign a contract extension.
Roberto Firmino scored a hat-trick on debut for Al Ahli (Abdul Ghani Bashir Issa/MB Media/Getty Images)Speaking back in March, Klopp admitted he was "surprised" at Firmino's decision to leave Anfield, stating: "He told me. Surprised? Yes, a little bit but I was not hit by the surprise, actually it’s a normal thing to do.
"It could go two ways and it was one and I respect that a lot. He told me and then the only other thing he said is, 'Now I want to bring this wonderful story to a positive end'. He is completely here and completely committed, how everybody can imagine and that's all we need to know."
Both Al Ahli and Al Hazm are newly-promoted clubs, but Al Ahli have been able to invest heavily as they are one of four clubs which have been taken over by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Al Hazm, meanwhile, have not been able to sign any household names.