‘These two’: Fabinho says Reds aren’t title favourites; appears to aim transfers dig

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Fabinho appeared to question Liverpool’s transfers this week. The Brazilian doesn’t believe his club are title favourites.

Fabinho sees two teams above Liverpool in the title stakes right now – Manchester City and Chelsea. On the face of it, that’s not a bold statement. The former won the Premier League last season and the other are European champions.

But Fabinho’s reasoning for it is a little noteworthy. He doesn’t cite Liverpool’s injuries as leaving them playing catchup, nor does he simply use their success as a reason.

Instead, Fabinho believes transfers make the difference. Those two sides continued to improve even after winning trophies.

Fabinho on transfers

“If I look at the team, I think Manchester City are the favourites, as they’re the defending champions and still keep strengthening themselves, which is what they do every season,” he told ESPN Brazil. “They, even being champions, winning titles, always want to reinforce, so they are favourites of the season.

“Chelsea, current Champions League champions, keep buying, too. I think these two teams come really strong, too, and are the favourites.”

Now, we don’t believe Fabinho is really taking an aim here at FSG and trying to start something. But it is interesting after Liverpool’s recent summer business.

The Reds signed one player this summer – Ibrahima Konate. They then brought in three last summer in Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago and Diogo Jota.

The summer before that? Nothing. It’s in stark contrast to City signing Jack Grealish for £100m right after winning the title. Or Chelsea paying virtually the same for Romelu Lukaku.

In fact, Liverpool’s transfers since their Champions League win – including January signing Takumi Minamino – aren’t too far above £100m combined.

Fabinho appears to have an opinion on transfers. Perhaps the Liverpool squad do as a whole. What we don’t know is how it’s tilted – do they see the Reds as slacking or the other two as untouchable?

All that’s certain is Fabinho’s belief that City and Chelsea’s business makes them hard to beat this season. Liverpool will just have to hope he’s wrong.