Liverpool’s shock deal with AS Monaco for the Brazilian midfielder could free up the captain for an even bigger role.
Liverpool have pounced quickly to rebuild after their devastating defeat in the Champions League final to Real Madrid on Saturday evening.
The club confirmed the signing of AS Monaco’s Brazilian midfielder Fabinho on Monday night.
Fabinho was originally a right-back but his move into a holding midfield role over the past couple of years has seen him flourish greatly – enough that Manchester United were heavily linked with a move last summer.
That never materialised but Liverpool now appear to be on the brink of welcoming the player. They have signed someone who will add a lot to their team on his own but it is how he may benefit captain Jordan Henderson that is perhaps the most interesting.
Henderson has developed into a holding midfielder under Jurgen Klopp, if only because he is the only player in the squad capable of reliably operating there. With the arrival of Fabinho, however, Henderson finally has some freedom once more to move forward in the midfield – and that is where he may flourish.
Until this year, the Liverpool captain’s best season had come in 13/14 when he was truly allowed to embrace the box-to-box role that he has always seemed tailor-made for. Athletic, incredibly hard-working and able to run for days, Henderson does feel like the ideal all-action midfielder for Klopp’s high pressing team.
He can now embrace that role more often in Liverpool’s set up, starting presses, attacking more and covering more of the pitch.
Henderson’s strength has long come in his flexibility. Kenny Dalglish used him as a right midfielder while Brendan Rodgers utilised him as an attacking midfielder on occasion, and now he can show that once more. The shackles are off the Liverpool captain and that is a truly exciting prospect.
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