How Fabinho will put an end to Liverpool’s defensive capitulations

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Liverpool have completed the signing of Monaco midfielder Fabinho, and here is what he will bring to the side.

Liverpool have acquired their first signing of the summer, bringing in Monaco’s Brazilian midfielder Fabinho for a fee of around £40 million (Sky Sports), showing real intent for future success just days after losing the Champions League final.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp outlined the player’s tactical versatility, in quotes via Sky Sports, and level of experience playing a number of different roles in his side.

“He is tactically very strong and football smart,” the Liverpool boss said. “He can play ‘6’, ‘8’ and ‘2’. I like that he is young yet experienced also, with a high number of games at a club that compete to win.”

There is no doubting that the Reds have been in dire need of someone to steady the ship in midfield when the forwards press and attack relentlessly, and it is likely Fabinho will fill the role for years to come.

Liverpool have not had a proper ball-winning defensive midfielder in the ranks under Klopp, with the German instead opting for two box-to-box midfielders – i.e. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain/Georginio Wijnaldum and James Milner separated by another ball-playing centre-mid in either Jordan Henderson or Emre Can.

Although it lends to Liverpool’s ‘heavy metal’ style of play, it also leads to complacent and naive performances where the team struggle to manage situations and waste minutes after taking a comfortable lead.

Results such as 3-3 against Watford, 2-2 against West Brom and 4-2 against Roma this term have raised concerns that perhaps this Liverpool team is not savvy enough and need a few level heads to grind out results and make the right decisions at the right times.

Fabinho, 24, embodies this calmness and tactical nuance the side are currently looking for. The Brazilian will screen the defence similarly to Nemanja Matic or N’Golo Kante and will look to keep possession ticking over from deep, while making interceptions and breaking up play, allowing the attackers to continue playing their usual game.

This is the first Liverpool signing under the German’s reign that breaks his usual mould of player, suggesting Klopp is beginning to understand that titles are hard to come by without becoming more versed in the ‘dark arts’ of football.