Liverpool midfielder returns to alter Jurgen Klopp’s transfer plans for the summer.
The ECHO’s end-of-season evaluations continue with Fabinho’s campaign evaluation.
People could have been excused for believing that Fabinho’s time at Liverpool was over.
In the fourth round of the FA Cup against Brighton in January, the Brazilian was only on the field for two minutes when he committed a horrendous tackle from behind on youthful home striker Evan Ferguson that was somehow only penalized with a yellow card.
Having already given the ball away in a dangerous position, Fabinho’s hapless cameo exemplified a run of form throughout the first half of the season that had seen him benched early on for away games at Manchester United and Arsenal, contests in which the defensive midfielder would have typically started.
After the 29-year-old was demoted to the bench for the FA Cup third round replay win at Wolves, Stefan Bajcetic retained his starting position for the next two games, while Fabinho was similarly unimpressive in his substitute appearance against Chelsea in the Premier League the following week. The following week, Fabinho was unable to participate in the disappointing Premier League defeat at Wolves because of illness.
After almost five years as the defensive shield for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, with the mind willing but the body unable to maintain the required intensity, there was a growing sense that Fabinho’s race had run its course, with the mind willing but the body unable to maintain the required intensity.
Then, events began to shift. Seven yellow cards were issued in Fabinho’s next ten Premier League games, demonstrating his increased aggression. However, this was accompanied by a more consistent run of form, with the Brazil international starting 19 of Liverpool’s last 20 matches.
He was aided by the alteration in formation that saw inverted right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold join him frequently in central midfield. Alexander-Arnold provided additional legs in the engine room, allowing Fabinho to focus on his talents of disrupting opposing attacks and providing a shield for the defense, while also allowing for the occasional flash of creativity. As a result, he appeared much more at ease, and his performance in last month’s 3-0 victory over Leicester City was the finest of his season.
In reality, circumstances conspired against Fabinho from the beginning. The midfielder, notorious for being slow to recover after the summer break, was still suffering from the hamstring injury that caused him to miss the FA Cup final, while the shortened vacation and condensed preparation period left him unprepared for the new season.
And as early as the August Premier League opener at Fulham, there was a feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Given what transpired over the next six months, the loss of their much-vaunted “lighthouse” could not have come at a worse time. Fabinho had no choice but to attempt to play his way back into form with so many of his fellow midfielders either injured or suffering to a greater extent with their games.
In retrospect, a 10% improvement in Fabinho’s performance during those difficult initial months would have made a significant difference. The absence of his consistent contribution to this Liverpool team highlighted the significance of his role.
There is no doubt that Fabinho’s strong finish to the season was in part a reaction to the impending increase in competition for midfield positions. In the following months, few supporters would advocate cashing in on the Brazilian.
And the Brazilian’s revival may have persuaded Klopp that this summer’s overhaul of the engine room may not be as extensive as initially anticipated.
Liverpool midfielder returns to alter Jurgen Klopp’s transfer plans for the summer.
