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FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-CARDIFF
Fabinho form creates Cardiff dilemma for Klopp
LIVERPOOL, Oct 26, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – 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 on Saturday.
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 œ39.9 million ($51.4 million, 45
million euros) in pre-season, has made a slow and stuttering start to his
life in English football.
His 21-minute substitute appearance in last weekend’s victory at
Huddersfield is still the only league football he has to his name this
season, with Klopp appearing to have done a masterful job of integrating him
carefully into his line-up.
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.
“The present for his birthday was not that he was in the line-up, it was
that we played his favourite system with a double-six! He played really well
and it was good to see.
“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.
“It is quite impressive what people saw. It always helps a player if you
play a good game — it helped us and helped him. That was the start, so let’s
carry on,” the German boss added.
– Midfield three –
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.
Former Stoke winger Shaqiri was hugely influential, using his passing
abilities to pick holes in the Red Star defence from a slightly deeper
position than usual.
The midfield three currently being turned out on a regular basis by
defending champions Manchester City — with Fernandinho in the defensive role
and playmakers David and Bernardo Silva alongside him — is considered by
many to be the most impressive midfield combination in the league, but
Liverpool’s depth and variety can certainly offer a challenge to Pep
Guardiola’s side.
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.
Liverpool’s last trophy success came against Cardiff, in the English League
Cup final nearly seven years ago, although hopes have never been higher of
ending that barren run than at present.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0830 HRS