Why Liverpool need Fabinho in defence with Chelsea visiting Anfield
Fabinho nullified Timo Werner when Liverpool beat Chelsea earlier this season… the stats show Jurgen Klopp needs him back at the heart of his defence to rescue a top-four place, starting against the Blues tonight!
- Jurgen Klopp has makeshift centre back Fabinho available for Chelsea clash
- Liverpool centre halves Ozan Kabak and Nathaniel Phillips lack experience
- Fabinho put in a sensational display against the Blues earlier on in the season
- Brazilian made the most recoveries and lost the ball the least out of defenders
- Even though he is a midfielder by trade, Klopp must use Fabinho at the back
Liverpool secured their first victory in five league games last weekend and by the end of today the struggling Premier League champions could be back in the top four with things looking a little rosier in his injury-hit squad.
Midfielders Naby Keita and James Milner made their comebacks from injury against Sheffield United while Diogo Jota is ready for action this week. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker returns too following the tragic death of his father.
But the most important return of all is that of midfielder and makeshift centre half Fabinho. Manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Wednesday that the Brazilian will be available for selection for the visit of Chelsea to Anfield tonight.
Jurgen Klopp has midfielder and makeshift centre back Fabinho (left) available for Chelsea
Centre backs Ozan Kabak (left) and Nathaniel Phillips (right) kept a clean sheet last weekend but both lack experience and Fabinho would provide welcome reassurance once again
‘Fab has now five or six sessions in his legs and we have to make a decision how we deal with that, but he looks good and is ready for the squad for sure,’ said Klopp.
Stand-in centre backs Nathaniel Phillips and Ozan Kabak did keep a clean sheet at Bramall Lane but against the Premier League’s lowest scorers were not fully put to the test.
There is much debate over whether the Reds should continue with that central defensive duo after Klopp has been forced to rotate constantly in that area of the pitch due to injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
Fabinho is a superb holding midfielder who protects the Liverpool backline with control and efficiency and has an excellent ability to cut out the opposition’s supply lines.
But when thrown into the spotlight in the heart of Liverpool’s defence back in September the 27-year-old rose to the challenge. The opponents that day… Chelsea.
There were fears the Blues’ £53million summer signing Timo Werner would expose him at Stamford Bridge but Fabinho nullified the pacy striker.
He denied the former RB Leipzig forward twice in one-on-one duels and Klopp said he would have been awarded man of the match had it not been for Sadio Mane scoring both goals in a 2-0 win.
The Brazilian midfielder has slotted in seamlessly to the Liverpool defence this season
‘Fabinho was a top player. He’s really good in one on one situations,’ he said.
‘He was outstanding. If Sadio doesn’t score two goals, Fabinho would have been a man of the match contender.’
Compatriot Alisson, meanwhile, hailed him ‘a monster’ and praised his display as ‘unbelievable’.
Fabinho made the most recoveries (12) and lost the ball the least (3) out of all the Liverpool and Chelsea defenders. He also won 75 per cent of his tackles as well as 50 per cent of his aerial battles.
He played the most passes from defence but also was not wasteful as he had the highest pass completion rate at 96.7 per cent out of his team-mates Van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea’s back four of Reece James, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen and Marcos Alonso.
Fabinho nullified Timo Werner when Liverpool beat Chelsea last year as he starred for Reds
Fabinho filled in at centre half and made the most recoveries and lost the ball the least
Former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness has urged his old club to restore Fabinho to central defence on his return from injury.
‘You’re only as strong as your weakest link in the football team. They looked a bit vulnerable to a couple of long balls and flick-ons tonight,’ he told Sky Sports last weekend.
‘They’ll be [up against] a bigger threat on Thursday night when they play Chelsea and you’ve got to play him at the back.’
Phillips, 23, has not looked out of place but lacks experience while Kabak, who was brought in as emergency cover from Schalke in January, has had a baptism of fire.
He will be a welcome return for Liverpool when due to make his comeback against Chelsea
The 20-year-old, signed on loan with an option to buy, was involved in a costly mix-up with Alisson on his debut as Liverpool fell to a 3-1 defeat at Leicester. The young defender has not been afforded the luxury of time to adapt to his new surroundings.
Phillips has the best tackle success out of all the Liverpool centre halves this season at 70 per cent while Fabinho and Kabak have rates of 64 per cent and 62.5 per cent respectively when it comes to winning tackles.
Against Chelsea’s quick and tricky customers of Werner, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech, Phillips and Kabak’s limitations, however, could be laid bare.
Fabinho has played the most minutes in central defence for Liverpool this season. If the champions are to salvage a top four place he will need to rack up plenty more.
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