YOU’LL GET SILVA..WE’LL WIN GOLD
Fabinho warns his old Monaco pal Bernardo: We have the quality to take title from City
FABINHO has warned his close pal Bernardo Silva that Liverpool are coming for Manchester City.
He is great mates with Silva and became friendly with the City player and fellow Portuguese speaker when they were at Monaco.
The Brazilian midfielder joined the Reds at the start of the month and has already started sledging Silva and another of his ex-monaco team-mates, Benjamin Mendy, who is also at the Etihad.
He is relishing the prospect of competing against them with his new team.
“I believe we can challenge City,” said Fabinho, who scored when Monaco dumped City out of the Champions League last year. “We’ve a very good team and will be able to fight for the title. I’ve just started with my team-mates and we have excellent players and an excellent manager.
“I know City are the champions and produced excellent football last season, but we will do our best to get the title from them.
“I have told Bernardo that although we are friends, when we play each other maybe I will be a bit harsh on him.
“I’m pleased they are playing in England and we will be living close by. Off the pitch we are very good friends, but on the pitch is a different story.
“I’m sure near those matches, we can exchange text messages and have some fun.”
Fabinho, a £43.7million buy from Monaco, spoke to his Brazil pal and Reds forward Roberto Firmino.
“When he became aware JURGEN KLOPP admits he had to force Jordan Henderson to take a break after the World Cup.
Henderson helped England reach the semi-finals – so his season ended only last weekend.
And Klopp had to order him to put his feet up for three weeks.
The Anfield boss (right) said: “It was a hard fight to convince Hendo that he needed a holiday. I Liverpool were interested in me, he had a good chat with me,” said Fabinho.
“He talked to me about the way of life in Liverpool, the best areas to live in, how the club worked, how the people in the area are. He helped me a lot.”
The 24-year-old admits it knew it would happen. And Jordan needs a holiday, so he’ll be back on August 5.”
Croatia defender Dejan
Lovren and Belgium keeper Simon Mignolet will also miss Liverpool’s opening league game against West Ham on
August 12, as they will return to training only a week before.
When Henderson (right) was no surprise when he missed out on the Brazil World Cup squad. But he believes his move to last season’s beaten Champions League finalists will help him become a regular for his country.
“In my mind I already knew I wouldn’t be there,” he said of returns, he faces a battle with new, £43.7m midfielder Fabinho. Klopp said: “Hendo believes 100 per cent in training. He feels like he needs training every day, a bit like Millie (James Milner).
“They are old-fashioned professionals, which I like. They shouldn’t be worried about losing their place because we’ll need them all.” Klopp will allow
HOW THEY FINISHED LAST SEASON
not being given the chance to add to his four caps.
“Now I’m at Liverpool, a huge club, and their profile is different.
“I’ll have to work hard to get called up by my national team and hopefully I’ll get there.”
Fabinho is determined to seize his opportunity on Merseyside after just 14 minutes of first-team action for Real Madrid during his loan season with them under Jose Mourinho five years ago.
“When I went to Real Madrid, I was only 18 or 19,” he added. “I was playing for Real Madrid B and at the end of the season I was told I could play for the B team again.
“Then came the opportunity to move to Monaco.
“Now I’m at Liverpool, one of the top clubs in Europe. Hopefully things will work out and I’ll show what I’m worth.” full-back Trent Alexander-arnold, 19, to come back a week earlier than planned, owing to his young age and the fact he featured only once in the World Cup.
He added: “I want to have them desperately, but the season is really long. We had four players in the semis – we can deal with that.
“But Tottenham had nine players in the semis – I haven’t got a clue how they will do it.”