Jurgen Klopp has discussed Fabinho’s Merseyside Derby performance, in which he shone in a midfield two alongside Gini Wijnaldum.
Fabinho made multiple tackles and passed the ball quickly to our forward players…
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As a result, we think he’s a certainty to start tonight’s game with Burnley, although we’re not sure if it’ll be in the 4-2-3-1 he prefers or the 4-3-3 in which he’s largely struggled.
Klopp reckons the Brazilian can now play in both, however.
“I don’t judge it on big steps or small steps; it was just a good performance from him. It was exactly what I expected,” Klopp told the official website.
“So far, Gini and Fabinho have worked really well together on the defending side.
“Of course, because he has got used to it,” Klopp continued when asked about Fabinho’s ability to play in the 4-3-3 as well as the 4-2-3-1.
“The difference is not that big. We adapt to our defensive players as a unit and our attacking players as a unit with slight adjustments depending on the skills.
“That’s how it is. If you have quick centre-halves, you can defend higher. Then the ball in behind isn’t a problem. That’s what we have to do in these situations.
“So far, for Fabinho, it feels very familiar together with another No.6 in the centre. But of course he has to [play in other systems] and he will.”
Fabinho has outperformed our captain Jordan Henderson this term and we’d really hope he starts ahead of him when everyone is fully fit in the run-up to Christmas.
Naby Keita also needs to get more minutes, and likely will, with a busy festive schedule coming up.
Liverpool have been poor this season when James Milner, Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum have started in a three – so it’s imperative we get one or more of the creative midfielders playing instead.
We’d love to see a central three of Keita, Fabinho and Wijnaldum tonight – although would be surprised if Klopp took the gamble.