What a good signing Fabinho has been for Liverpool.
The Reds brought him in as a midfielder in 2018, but this season he is far more needed in central defence.
Virgil van Dijk’s injury at Everton in October has seen Fabinho drop into a centre-back role ever since then.
And to say the big Brazilian has done a brilliant job would be an understatement.
When Joe Gomez then followed Van Dijk into the treatment room, Liverpool’s season could have been on the brink of collapse if not for Fabinho’s versaility.
And speaking ahead of tonight’s clash with Spurs at Anfield, Reds captain Jordan Henderson, a £20 million signing in 2011, has paid a glowing tribute to the former Monaco powerhouse for his consistency over the past couple of months.
He said on Liverpool’s official website: “It isn’t surprising that he has reacted as positively as he has because Fab is a top-class professional and his skillset lends itself to playing in a number of roles. But his consistency in an unfamiliar role has been incredible and long may that continue.
“Knowing Fab, he will approach tonight’s game with his usual professionalism and determination to excel in whatever role he plays in. The standards he has set for himself and which he reaches on a regular basis have helped us to cope better than many had expected with the injury problems we are having.”
It’s actually hard to believe that Fabinho didn’t even seem to have a good first few months on Merseyside.
He struggled early on, as so many foreign imports do, but he has played an enormous role in Klopp’s side winning the Premier League and Champions League over the past 18 months.
And if Liverpool win either again this season, he’ll have played perhaps a bigger part, given the unfamiliar role.
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