Fabinho injury big blow to Liverpool
Key Liverpool midfielder Fabinho will be out until January with a knee injury, putting more strain on the English Premier League leaders with a packed schedule coming up.
Fabinho went off injured in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday with ankle ligament damage.
The Brazilian has started all five of Liverpool’s games in the Champions League this season and 12 of 13 in the Premier League.
Liverpool have 10 games to play before the end of the year – six in the Premier League, a Champions League match against Salzburg, two games at the Club World Cup and one in the League Cup.
Fabinho has been one of Liverpool’s strongest performers throughout their outstanding start to the Premier League campaign – manager Jurgen Klopp’s team can equal a club record of 31 league games without defeat at home to Brighton today – and his defensive composure will be sorely missed.
The Liverpool manager admitted: ‘‘There is nothing good to say about it. We are not 100 per cent sure of the timeframe yet but it looks pretty sure he will not be involved in the Christmas fixtures. We have solutions for the position, we can replace him, we have played good without him and that’s all OK. It’s an opportunity for somebody else. That’s how it is, always.’’
Klopp said Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri will also have more opportunities during a demanding December having recovered from the injuries that have severely limited their involvement this season.
‘‘We have guys with a lack of minutes for different reasons, like Shaq and Naby,’’ he added. ‘‘We don’t have the biggest squad in the world and now we have two defensive players in Joel [Matip] and Fabinho with long-term injuries.
‘‘It’s not cool. They all will play. It’s time to be there for all of us and all the boys especially. December is always a tough period.
‘‘We have had wonderful
‘‘It’s an opportunity for somebody else. That’s how it is, always.’’ Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Decembers, but very average Januarys. So it is about going through and getting as many points as you can.’’
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane insists success means he and fellow forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino are not feeling the physical effects.
All three start virtually every match for Klopp’s side but that, plus their international commitments, means the numbers they are racking up are significant.
Senegal international Mane has played 131 matches for club and country since the start of the 2017-18 season, Egypt’s Salah has 133 while Brazilian Firmino has made a remarkable 149 appearances.
Mane certainly does not seem to be showing any signs of fatigue affecting his form with the 27-year-old having scored 12 times in 19 games.
– AP/AAP