Tony Cascarino has stated he ‘hates it’ when Fabinho isn’t playing for Liverpool because he is like Virgil van Dijk in midfield, as he told talkSPORT.
Fabinho has missed Liverpool’s last few games and he will be hoping to be in contention to return against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Liverpool clearly didn’t miss his presence against Manchester United, as they well and truly smashed their bitter rival to pieces at Old Trafford.
But he was needed against a more confident and free-flowing Brighton side that came from 2-0 down to record a point at Anfield over the weekend.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have leaked a fair few goals in Europe this season, including two against Atletico Madrid last time out.
If Fabinho does return, then he will be hoping to shore up that backline, as Cascarino expressed how valuable the 28-year-old is to the Reds.
“I hate it when Fabinho is not in the team,” said Cascarino. “I really think he is like Van Dijk in the midfield, for me.
“He controls things. He moves things around. He stops the opposition.”
Liverpool have a 100% start to the Champions League this season and making it four from four on Wednesday night will help matters in the long run.
After the international break, the games will come thick and fast for this Liverpool team and if they can progress through to the knockout stages as quickly as possible.
Then, it allows Klopp to rest players during the final few games of the group stages, rather than chasing for those much-needed points.
And given that the Reds don’t have the squad depth luxury of a Manchester City, if they can get the job done pretty early in Europe, in preparing for the knockout matches, then it might help them in the Premier League.
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