Fabinho is set to line up at centre-back as Liverpool welcome Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich to Anfield in the Champions League.
Stan Collymore fears Fabinho could be left exposed in Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, speaking to the Mirror (19 February, page 49).
Liverpool are arguably the favourites on paper against the reigning Bundesliga champions, who have looked a shadow of their formidable best since Niko Kovac replaced Jupp Heynckes at the helm last summer.
But Jurgen Klopp’s side must take on Robert Lewandowski and co with only one available centre-half given that the suspended Virgil van Dijk has joined Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez on the sidelines.
The Times reported on Monday that defensive midfielder Fabinho is set to drop in at the back, and this has former Liverpool striker Collymore very concerned.
“Lewandowski won’t have lost any sleep last night at the prospect of facing Joel Matip and Fabinho,” Collymore said.
“Early on, Lewandowski might find Fabinho fairly mobile but then he’ll be able to pull him to the left or right of the 18-yard box, or perhaps entice him by dropping off a little more than usual.
“The message in Bayern’s team meeting will be simple. Niko Kovac will tell his men; ‘If Fabinho plays at the back, we’ll play on him’.”
Fabinho has filled in at the back on a number of occasions this season and impressed, particularly up against the evergreen Brighton striker Glenn Murray as Liverpool won 1-0 at The Amex Stadium in January.
But it is fair to say Lewandowski, one of the world’s truly elite centre-forwards, should represent an entirely different challenge.
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