Kop finally treated to a Fab display

THERE was a moment, midway through the first half, when Anfield hushed in expectation and then broke into awed applause.

It wasn’t for Mo Salah, or the brilliance of Roberto Firmino’s audacious flicks and touches, but a burst from the back by Fabinho, that ultimately came to nothing – but promised so much for the future.

The Brazil star offered a powerful message to his boss Jurgen Klopp – and to the impatient Liverpool fans.

The £43million summer signing has waited a long time for a proper start, not a nonsense League Cup trundle. And there have been whispers. Was he all that? Has the scouting system bought a dud? That was the general tone and his pre-season hardly encouraged excitement.

Yet, here we had an answer. Played in the holding role, his first contribution was to win a header against the towering Richmond Boakye – and aerial ability is an attribute that Klopp is desperate for in front of his defence.

There were tidy interceptions – a few decent, aggressive tackles and intelligent shielding. Plus a good old fashioned foul at the right moment.

But it was a dip of the shoulder from Fabinho (above), a ghost past his marker, and a burst forward to take the ball into the danger area that so encouraged the crowd.

Then there was his passing. Crisp. Incisive. Always looking forward.

It is only one game, but the Kop finally got a glimpse of what all the fuss is about.

A Brazilian who can do the dirty work and also sprinkle some of that Samba stardust.