Interview'Very happy to be back at home' - Firmino and Fabinho on special Anfield visit

The Brazilian duo were back on Merseyside to watch the Reds defeat Newcastle United 4-2 and establish a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

It represented their first visit to L4 since they both departed the club this past summer.

"I'm very happy to be back here at home, at Liverpool and the stadium as well, Anfield," Firmino told Liverpoolfc.com. "I'm very grateful to God for bringing me these moments again, to watch the game. Of course I'm not playing but I watch the game and see the boys.

"It's always emotional [to be here], you cannot forget you were here. We had a very good history here at the club that we achieved together and nobody can claim this history, it's already in the history [books]. We are here to support."

The pair are now playing their football in Saudi Arabia – Firmino leading the line for Al-Ahli and Fabinho representing Al-Ittihad.

Both have, however, still kept a close eye on the development of Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool after a period of change.

"It's really important for the team that the players that arrived are already playing good football, really integrated to the team," Fabinho said.

"Players like Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Endo are playing really well. It's important because the team lost some really important players. I think they are doing a good job.

"Unfortunately, Thiago is not playing regularly [at the moment] but I'm sure with his experience he is helping these players as well – he talks a lot, he has really good communication.

"The players that arrived here are doing a great job."

Firmino added: "Of course as a family we always pray for the club, for the team, to achieve.

"Of course we are not here anymore but we are still praying for them to achieve more trophies and to keep [up] the hard work.

"The main importance that counts in the end is the trophy. The journey is very important as well as a team together."

Firmino and Fabinho have come up against some familiar faces during their first season in Saudi Arabia.

Ex-Reds Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum are both part of Steven Gerrard's squad at Al-Ettifaq.

"I played maybe two or three weeks ago against Hendo and Gini, it was a nice experience to play against them," Fabinho said. "To play against Hendo particularly, somebody always pressing you, always next to you!

"It was a nice experience, after the game I spent a long time in their dressing room talking to them. It was really nice to see them, talk to them, remember a little bit the good times that we spent together.

"With Bobby as well, we don't play in the same team but we are in the same city, so we are often together. We played against each other, the derby – unfortunately it wasn't very good for me.

"But it's nice to see the friends that we made here at Liverpool."