OPINION
When you think of the impact that Liverpool’s summer recruits have made on the team this season, the names that would no doubt spring to mind would be the likes of Alisson and Naby Keita.
Unfortunately for one player – midfielder Fabinho – that could not be further from the truth.
The 24-year-old has not made a single Premier League start this season, and seeming as we are nearing towards the end of October, that is rather concerning.
In a pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Huddersfield on Saturday, Jurgen Klopp admitted that the Brazilian is close to starting – adding that absence is due to the fact that other players are a better fit for the team.
"The one reason is that others fit better in that moment."
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) October 19, 2018
“He’s close. I didn’t see him for 10 days. Not best thing to judge how he is. But he was never far away. He just needed to get used to different things. I’ve had this situation before – Gundogan didn’t play for half a year. The one reason is that others fit better in that moment,” he said, as quoted by Echo journalist James Pearce on his personal Twitter account.
Klopp’s comments are bizarre – if anything, the only way to ensure that Fabinho is a good fit for the side is by actually playing him.
Klopp’s treatment of him has actually been quite unfair – at the start of the season, omitting him was acceptable, but it is a worrying sight now.
Also, considering that the Reds recently had a number of blows in the midfield, Klopp has had more than enough chances to hand Fabinho his league debut.
He must be frustrated that he has not been able to get on the pitch yet – the longer his absence goes on, the more his talent is being wasted.
Surely Klopp knows this himself – what was even the point of splashing out on Fabinho if he is not even going to be used regularly?
Klopp just needs to put the 6ft 2in [Transfermarkt] player out of his misery and reward him with the start he deserves.
