Premier League giants Liverpool may need to consider parting company with Fabinho after the Brazilian’s form ‘rapidly declined’ under Jurgen Klopp, former Chelsea and Tottenham defender Jason Cundy tells talkSPORT (1 March, 11.40pm).
In fairness to the one-time Real Madrid man, this was arguably one of Fabinho’s better nights of late. Though that’s not saying much.
And, while much improved on recent displays, Fabinho was still more than a little fortunate that he stayed on until the end during Wednesday’s 2-0 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Like against Brighton in the FA Cup, the Brazil international was fortunate to avoid a straight red card for a clash with Mario Lemina.
Fabinho, a season or two back, would have put out the fire before it had chance to spread; anticipation and timing the root of his success. Now, at the age of 29 and with so many years of high-octane football under his belt, Fabinho – like so many members of Klopp’s squad – is starting to look a little worse for wear.
Is Fabinho fighting for his future at Liverpool?
“His form, over the last 12 months, has rapidly declined,” Cundy argues.
“I saw him tonight, and there’s a couple of challenges he’s putting in now (where) he’s getting caught. He’s starting to look like a massive problem in the middle of the park. Maybe not tonight but, overall, his drop-off…
“If you look at the midfield and you want to replace someone, I would consider shipping him out in the summer.”
Fabinho has, in his defence, been quite-literally central to a recent Liverpool resurgence. Well, in the Premier League, at least. Klopp’s side are now on a run of four straight clean sheets and the £40 million signing from Monaco has started three of those games; that 5-2 capitulation at home to Real Madrid feeling less like a continuation of Liverpool’s demise and more an aberration.
“He knows he’s not flying, and he has to work his way back,” Klopp admitted recently, urging Fabinho to take inspiration from another North West-based footballer who has kick-started his career again.
“In this position, you need a guy who wins challenges, who protects everybody, but who plays football as well. For plenty of years, Fabinho has been the best in that position.
“At the moment, it’s not clicking. Some players haven’t reached the levels they have reached for us over the past five or six years. It’s not unusual.
“One of the best examples is Marcus Rashford. The season he had last year and the season he is having this year, I’m not sure he can explain it. You have to fight and work through it.”
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