Fabinho hopes to make Paris final
JURGEN KLOPP insists Liverpool have no option but to keep going after confirming that Fabinho will miss tomorrow’s FA Cup final. But Liverpool’s manager is confident that his key midfielder has not suffered the kind of damage to his left hamstring that will prevent him from lining up against Real Madrid in the Champions League final later this month. Fabinho is one of Klopp’s most trusted players but he will play no further part in the domestic campaign after pulling up during the first half of Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Aston Villa. The manner in which the Brazilian went down caused significant alarm and Klopp has admitted there is no possibility of Fabinho facing Chelsea at Wembley, as Liverpool seek to win the FA Cup for the first time since 2006. But Klopp has been encouraged by medical bulletins that the 28-yearold will be in his squad for the grand finale in Paris. ‘There’s a good chance that he will be available for the Champions League final,’ said Klopp yesterday.
It is expected that Jordan Henderson will take over Fabinho’s holding position against Chelsea, with Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita flanking the captain. James Milner is an experienced alternative. There is no escaping the fact that Fabinho’s loss is significant but Klopp will not consider feeling sorry for himself, saying: ‘We have to move on. Because we can cope. Having him or not is a difference, but it is all fine. ‘Hendo came on (at Villa) and played incredible, so that is not a problem.’