Liverpool will travel to Dean Smith’s Aston Villa for Saturday’s Premier League clash at Villa Park.
Jurgen Klopp believes his Liverpool side will have to be at their tenacious best if they are to grab three points away at Aston Villa on Saturday, while speaking to a pre-match press conference. But Fabinho could miss out on a place in the starting XI.
Aston Villa might have picked up just 11 points from ten games to start the new Premier League season but their performances have been a lot better than the results suggest with Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City all given scares by Dean Smith’s side.
Considering the way the usually peerless Liverpool have defended of late, the likes of John McGinn and a fit Jack Grealish will be licking their lips ahead of the mid-afternoon clash at Villa Park.
And Klopp fears that Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season could come crashing down unless they are willing to throw themselves into tackles to stop Aston Villa’s dangerous midfielders from breaking into the final third.
As such, Fabinho could find himself on the outside looking in with the former Dortmund boss keen to ensure his Brazilian anchorman avoids picking up a yellow card ahead of next week’s crunch clash with Manchester City.
One more booking and Fabinho will be suspended for the visit of the champions.
“I don’t know yet, I will have to see,” Klopp said when asked whether the former Monaco stalwart will feature. “I know he is [one booking away from a ban]. No challenges at all!
“It is not possible against Villa to play without tackles. We know it. We have to deal with this information.”
In Jordan Henderson, Liverpool have a man who is more than comfortable dropping into the number six role if required. The captain might not have the same destructive force as Fabinho but he certainly possesses the energy and tenacity to keep Grealish or McGinn from finding their rhythm.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
