Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/football/article/3125230/fabinho-underscored-his-liverpool-player-year-credentials-return-his
Sport/ Football

Fabinho underscored his Liverpool player of the year credentials in a return to his natural position – now he needs to stay there

  • Fabinho, the Brazilian anchor man, was back to his best in the 2-0 win over Leipzig this week
  • Playing players in their best positions is the quickest way out of this rut for Jurgen Klopp
Fabinho was awarded man of the match against Leipzig in the Champions League in midweek, but will be Liverpool’s player of the year? Photo: AP

Fabinho must be a shoo-in to be Liverpool’s player of the year. While all around him have underperformed or succumbed to injury, the 27-year-old has excelled. When he was needed to play at centre half, the Brazilian did his duty without complaint and shone in the unfamiliar job.

Now he can save Liverpool’s season. To do that, he needs to be back in midfield, no matter how dire the central defensive situation becomes.

On Wednesday night in Budapest in the 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig, Fabinho was magnificent. His presence in the centre of the park allowed Georginio Wijnaldum to play further up the pitch and give fresh life to Liverpool’s high press. It provided the chance for Thiago Alcantara to play his natural game and the 29-year-old turned in his best performance since arriving from Bayern Munich last summer. Fabinho made life easier for Nathaniel Phillips and Ozan Kabak, cutting off danger before it arrived on the doorstep of the inexperienced centre halves.

Who could have known that deploying a player in his natural position would be so effective?

Jurgen Klopp does not need to learn many lessons but the past few months have been instructive for the manager. As the injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip piled up and there was no experienced stopper to replace them, it seemed natural to call on Fabinho, who had played in the back line for Monaco. It might have been better had Klopp taken a deep breath, turned to Phillips and Rhys Williams and kept his title-winning midfield together.

What 2021 has taught us is that Fabinho, Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson are one of the finest midfield units in the club’s history. While the front three were being lauded for their goalscoring exploits and the full backs hailed for their creative brilliance, the midfield trio were the men who made the team tick.

Fabinho is versatile but excels in the holding midfield role. Photo: AP
Fabinho is versatile but excels in the holding midfield role. Photo: AP

Van Dijk’s arrival three years ago brought top-class ability and leadership to Anfield. Alisson Becker solved the side’s biggest weakness when the goalkeeper signed the following summer. Both players are adored by the crowd. Nevertheless, the relatively unloved midfield knitted everything together while getting the least praise of any department on the pitch.

Of the three, Fabinho is the most important component. His discipline allows Henderson and Wijnaldum to harry opponents and cover plenty of ground secure in the knowledge that the space behind them is protected. There is a drop-off in the team’s performance when any of the trio is absent but the biggest impact comes when the Brazilian is missing from the middle. With Fabinho on defensive duty and Henderson sidelined, the entire side seized up.

The indications from Budapest suggest that returning Fabinho to the central areas will solve some of the goalscoring concerns. This will have to be tested against better opposition than Leipzig. Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night at Molineux in the Premier League will provide the first examination of the theory. In Liverpool’s grim run this year, Wijnaldum has sat too deep and rival midfielders have had the chance to bypass the Dutchman. He is at his best when he applies pressure before the opposition get too far across the halfway line. Wijnaldum makes less able ball carriers – defenders – think twice about passing in his vicinity. That in turn gives the front three extra time to close opponents down. Fabinho in the midfield allows Wijnaldum to play where he is most effective.

The injury to Henderson means the title-winning midfield trio will not be reunited on the pitch in the foreseeable future but as long as Fabinho is available, Klopp’s options become more positive. Thiago slotted in nicely in Budapest, as did Naby Keita during his run-out as substitute. Both these players need a little latitude to thrive, as does Curtis Jones. Fabinho and Wijnaldum provide a strong enough foundation for the third midfield man to be more flexible.

This may mean Liverpool are likely to be more vulnerable defensively but if the front three are scoring, this is less of a problem. This year, Klopp’s team have lost to Southampton, Burnley, Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham without scoring a single goal. Restoring Fabinho’s balance to the midfield should help cure this affliction.

Fabinho brings out the best in Liverpool’s Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum. Photo: AFP
Fabinho brings out the best in Liverpool’s Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum. Photo: AFP

Versatility can sometimes work against players – and teams. One of the core philosophies of Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has been to recruit men who can operate in a number of positions. Emre Can was one of those who were supposed to excel in the middle and the back. It turned out he was not quite good enough anywhere. Fabinho is the real thing and it’s easy to understand Klopp’s logic in using him defensively. But downgrading the midfield was not worth the uptick at the back.

Not all responsibility for the patchwork team lies with the manager. Matip was lost for the season 28 days into the January transfer window. Michael Edwards, the sporting director, and FSG should have ensured that there was an adequate backup arriving on Merseyside on New Year’s Day. To scurry around to sign Kabak and Ben Davies in the final days of the window was a huge failure of recruitment and ownership.

Still, Liverpool are in the last-eight of the Champions League. That is a cause for celebration at Anfield. So too is Fabinho resuming his influential role.

Europe’s elite will look at Liverpool’s injuries and fancy them in the quarter-finals. They should be careful what they wish for because the six-time continental champions will be no pushovers. Especially with Fabinho employed in the role that suits him most.