FAB SHOW IMPRESSES KLOPP
Fabinho’s form creates Cardiff dilemma for Reds manager
FABINHO’S impressive display in Liverpool’s midweek Champions League success has left his manager Jurgen Klopp with a difficult decision to make ahead of the team’s return to domestic action at home to Cardiff, owned by Tan Sri Vincent Tan, today.
But, more importantly for Liverpool fans hoping to see an end to their club’s 29-year wait to be crowned champions of England again, the Brazilian’s emergence offers yet more hope that Klopp is assembling a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League trophy, with the Reds currently level on points with leaders Manchester City.
The 25-year-old, signed from Monaco for £39.9 million (RM213 million) in pre-season, has made a slow and stuttering start to his life in English football.
But Fabinho’s 90-minute performance in the 4-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday suggested he is capable of playing a significant role in a versatile midfield corps that compares favourably with any in England’s top flight.
“He was very good, very good,” said Klopp of Fabinho who celebrated his 25th birthday on Tuesday.
“He was very aggressive and everything was there. For his first game for a while, his second start from the beginning, it was good, really good.”
Xherdan Shaqiri also played in Klopp’s three-man midfield against Belgrade, along with Dutch international Georginio Wijnaldum who has become an integral part of Liverpool’s scheme, having appeared in every league and Champions League game this season.
Jordan Henderson’s days as an automatic starting choice in Liverpool’s midfield look over although the England international offers brilliant options and cover while James Milner, at 32 and with 500 league appearances to his name, may be slightly relieved if he is no longer required to see quite so much action.
With Naby Keita, also making an impressive start to life in England after a move from RB Leipzig, adding yet more depth to the middle of the park, Klopp has six front-line midfielders from which to select his starting three on a weekly basis — injuries permitting.
That depth, of course, may well be needed and Henderson, with a hamstring problem, is ruled out of the Cardiff game while Keita is a doubt with the same injury.