IF any of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool signings embody the manager’s success on Merseyside, it is Fabinho.
Brought in from Monaco for £38m last May, the season was a month old before the Brazilian was handed a debut, and even that was a token gesture of an outing, on for the final minute of a Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain. He wouldn’t become a regular starter until November.
Like Liverpool’s ascent under the German tactician, though, Fabinho grew steadily in stature and efficacy. Now, whenever the Reds face a fixture of any great importance, he is among the first names on the teamsheet, an indispensable figure key to all aspects of their play.
Gary Neville on who thinks is the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League:
"Fabinho, for me, is the best."
Agree? pic.twitter.com/fEe34kxN38
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) September 20, 2019
Klopp’s system at Anfield must rank as one of the more complex in the Premier League for new arrivals to assimilate to, combining spells of intense, strictly co-ordinated counter-pressing with prolonged periods of possession patterns.
Fabinho arrived at Liverpool already regarded as one Europe’s best defensive midfielders, having won Ligue 1 with Monaco after converting into a deep-lying destroyer from a dynamic and imposing full-back.
It is to the credit of both the player and his manager, then, that both remained patient while Fabinho adapted to the new surroundings, fending off frustration and resisting the urge to fast-track him into the first team when questions were being asked over his absence.
A little over a year on from his debut, Fabinho has begun the 2019/20 campaign in superlative fettle, a rock of reliability as the Reds raced to a perfect start and a five-point Premier League lead. And he was as towering in the latter stages of Liverpool’s Champions League triumph last season as he is immovable now.
"That's not a surprise, that's why we signed him," was Jurgen Klopp’s reply to reporters when asked about Fabinho’s stellar recent form. "He plays like he played at Monaco, but he needed time to adapt to the different rhythm and tempo in the league. That's it. But in the moment when that happened, when he got used to that, since then he can play like he plays because of his quality.”
Fabinho vs Chelsea
89% passing
39/44 passes
1 chance created
2/2 dribbles
2/4 aeriel duels
2 tackles
2 clearances pic.twitter.com/eZuZk5hHYh— LFC Stats (@LFCData) September 22, 2019
Fabinho is at his best when you don’t really notice him. He will occasionally roar forth with a clattering – and invariably well-timed – challenge or a sharp burst forward reminiscent of his days as a flying full-back at Monaco, but his subtlety is his biggest strength.
When Liverpool attack, he is usually just on the edge of camera shot, always available as a simple, safe passing option and equally ready to snap into defensive action if play breaks down, keeping opponents penned high, recovering the ball and recycling.
On the increasingly rare occasions the Reds find themselves under pressure, Fabinho marshals the edge of the defensive third, screening the back four and plugging gaps when they appear.
“It's about all his game intelligence,” Klopp said of the 25-year-old, pinpointing the midfielder’s greatest asset. “It's really good and that helps all of us.”
Fabinho’s work is unspectacular by design, but his importance is reflected in the praise showered on those around him. Virgil van Dijk found himself on the podium at the FIFA Best awards this week, while central-defensive partner Joel Matip is earning belated plaudits for his performances. Their individual efforts are unquestionably worthy of recognition, but Fabinho’s protection has eased their burden significantly.
Fabinho: “I play for Liverpool, I want to be important to this team and I want to continue with this momentum. Liverpool has this family element that makes us feel so at ease. Being at a wonderful club as well, we really like Liverpool.” pic.twitter.com/zmPQNdPwGM
— The Kopite (@TheKopiteOFF) September 23, 2019
Full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are Liverpool’s driving creative force, and their ability to thunder forward is aided by Fabinho – along with his midfield colleagues – expertly guarding the spaces the pair leave in their wake.
And would the devastating front three of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino feel at liberty to attack with such dynamic abandon without their Brazilian insurance policy?
With N’Golo Kante now occupying a more attacking role at Chelsea, Fabinho has emerged as the finest pure defensive midfielder in the Premier League. From his athleticism and tenacity to his anticipation and technique, he possesses every attribute Klopp would desire if drawing up the perfect anchor for his Liverpool side; tools he always had in abundance, only now refined and realigned.
“Definitely I am different,” Fabinho told Liverpool’s official website when questioned about his adaptation to English football. “Liverpool has brought me up to the highest level of my career. I can win titles with Liverpool that I have always dreamed of.”
Unlike many of his team-mates, Fabinho can’t expect to figure highly in the running for individual awards – such accolades are reserved for those who catch the eye, rather than those whose best work is often inconspicuous. But any silverware Liverpool claim this season will bear his hallmark.
