Last Friday’s Champions League qualifying play-off draw saw the Reds paired with Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, a club Firmino represented with distinction for four-and-a-half years prior to his move to Anfield in June 2015.
Former Red McAteer saw the club’s current No.9 at close quarters when he travelled to Australia along with Jürgen Klopp’s squad for their post-season friendly with Sydney FC in May.
The ex-Republic of Ireland international is a huge fan of the Brazilian and expects him to flourish at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena in next Tuesday’s first leg.
“I think he relishes playing against anyone, doesn’t he? I think he’s really come into his own - certainly towards the end of last season, I thought he was phenomenal,” McAteer told Liverpoolfc.com.
“I think his link-up play with Coutinho is fantastic, they’ve got a great understanding and now with Mane and Salah in that frontline as well, it really whets the appetite.
“Playing in that central role, he shifts left, he shifts right, he’s got goals, he’s got assists in his locker. I saw him at close hand and just seeing the way he interacts with the other players - he’s well respected.
“I had a cup of coffee with Steven Gerrard and he couldn’t speak highly enough of him and I totally understand where Steven’s coming from. He’s an integral part of the team.”
McAteer also recalled the emotions involved in playing against former clubs and thinks that Firmino will be well received by Hoffenheim’s supporters.
“[He’ll feel] slightly excited. Apart from going back to Anfield - I found that very difficult when I was at other football clubs - I liked going back to places I’d played at before,” he explained.
“I think as a player sometimes you can sign for a club having not really said goodbye [to your old club]. Behind the scenes you make a lot of friends, so it’ll be nice for him to go back and see them again.
“I’m sure he’ll get a great reception from the Hoffenheim fans. German fans are great and I’m sure there’s no qualms about him leaving Hoffenheim for Liverpool, so it’s not one of them where he’s going back and the fans are going to dislike him.
“I’m sure they’ll give him a good reception and he’ll enjoy that.
“But he’s in great form at the minute and it wouldn’t surprise me if he gets a couple of goals against his old club.”