OPINION
With Liverpool facing West Ham in their opening Premier League fixture, new signing Fabinho must start ahead of club captain Jordan Henderson.
The Englishman was involved in the national team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, playing a vital role as England wowed the country by reaching a World Cup semi-final. He was cool, calm and composed, showing all the qualities you’d want for a Liverpool holding midfielder.
However, the Reds strengthened that position this summer with the signing of Brazilian defensive midfielder Fabinho, paying French side AS Monaco a reported £40million for the 24-year-old’s signature and, despite the brilliant performances of Henderson this summer, Fabinho must start the season in that position.
The former Real Madrid midfielder will start the season there in any case, with Henderson still getting up to full match fitness following his extended holiday, but Fabinho must be given a run in the side and show he can be the one to play that position all season, not Henderson.
Let’s get this straight, Henderson is a very good player. He’s got great energy, good passing ability and real leadership skills, but the Brazilian is on a different level technically and tactically to an Englishman, and he’ll show that in the opening few games of the season.
There’s nothing wrong with Henderson’s technical and tactically ability per-say, but Fabinho is just at a top-quality level. Where Henderson might panic if he receives the ball under pressure, Fabinho won’t, he will either dribble past the press or will pass around the opposition.
He will also give much better angles for the Reds defenders to find him with passes, as sometimes you can see Henderson holding his position and marking the opposition, rather than thinking about building attacks.
The new holding midfielder will transform the way the team plays and that’s why he must start over Henderson.
