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FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-BRIGHTON-FABINHO-PREVIEW
Liverpool fret over Fabinho injury as fixture pile-up looms
LIVERPOOL, Nov 29, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Jurgen Klopp is preparing to embark on
a frantic run of fixtures with fears over the fitness of Fabinho after the
midfielder limped out of Liverpool’s Champions League draw against Napoli.
The 26-year-old Brazilian has emerged as one of the unsung heroes of
Klopp’s team, who have a comfortable eight-point lead at the top of the
Premier League.
Fabinho suffered an ankle injury during Wednesday’s 1-1 Champions League
draw with Napoli, a result that leaves the reigning champions needing a point
from their final group game at Salzburg to guarantee progress.
Klopp had been looking for a victory against the Italians, to ensure that
at least one of his fixtures during this chaotic run could be treated as a
dead rubber.
But the Liverpool manager was left with graver concerns when Fabinho limped
off early.
Fellow midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum said an injury to Fabinho, signed
from Monaco in July 2018, would be a “big blow”, with Liverpool involved in
four competitions in December.
But he added: “We just have to show that it doesn’t affect us. During the
years we have had some difficult injuries and difficult positions (like) last
season when we didn’t have a right defender, we just have to deal with it so
we will see.”
Fabinho has emerged as a crucial player at Anfield, filling a sitting
midfield role that had previously been the preserve of Jordan Henderson.
He took his time to settle, with critics questioning the wisdom of Klopp’s
decision to bring him to Anfield.
But, once accustomed to the demands of the English game, Fabinho quickly
became an integral part of a Liverpool side that would lose just one league
match, to champions Manchester City in January, over the entire campaign.
Significantly, perhaps, Fabinho did not start that game, coming on as a
second-half substitute. Liverpool have not lost a league game in which their
midfield lynchpin has started since he arrived at the club nearly 18 months
ago.
Klopp was still not offering any diagnosis of the injury on Thursday, with
reports suggesting medics were waiting for the swelling in Fabinho’s ankle to
die down before conducting thorough tests on Friday.
In any case, Fabinho was always due to miss Saturday’s Brighton game at
Anfield through suspension, having picked up five bookings to earn a one-
match ban, but with the prospect of a longer lay-off, Klopp will have to make
contingency plans.
Fabinho’s absence will be felt as much psychologically as in pure football
terms, with the player bringing graft and endeavour to the side.
His covering role in front of the back four has freed other midfielders,
notably Henderson, to play more offensive roles and while teammate and
central defender Virgil van Dijk has rightly earned plaudits for his
impressive form, Fabinho’s performances have clearly helped.
Klopp must decide whether he returns Henderson to the Fabinho role or
switches Dutch international Wijnaldum from a wide position to the central
spot.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0905 hrs