Gary Neville was full of praise for Liverpool midfielder Fabinho ahead of the Reds taking on Wolves on Friday.
The Sky Sports pundit revealed that he previously doubted the summer signing as he wasn’t sure whether the defensive midfielder had the pace nor was he sure whether he could settle into Jurgen Klopp’s side.
However Neville shared that he had to simply say wow and realise Fabinho was a top player after watching his display in the 3-1 win over Manchester United last Sunday.
“I suppose I should have been surprised by how Jurgen Klopp has sort of introduced him as it was a stuttering start for someone who has been paid a lot of money, didn’t play a lot in the first nine or ten matches, he’s played six out of the last eight and I have to say in that game against Manchester United last Sunday it was almost like an arrival,” said Neville on Sky Sports Premier League (Friday December 21st, 19:40).
“Almost like he stamped his mark on the team where it’s the most he has impressed me.
“He got a little bit of criticism a few games ago against Arsenal and he didn’t do too well and I wondered if he would adapt to the pace.
“But last week against Manchester United he was fantastic, what I like about him is sometimes you see defensive midfield players and they play horizontally, they shuffle across horizontally, they pass horizontally but he actually moved up the pitch with the game, backing them at the edge of box, backing them up to the edge box, obviously passes through to the goal, first goal his pass was absolutely fantastic as it cut United open.
“So last week was the first time I’ve seen him put in a performance where I have thought wow this is a top player as we know he has been a top player but you think is he going to settle into this Liverpool team.
“It looked like a slow start he is delivering what Jurgen Klopp thought he wanted him too.”
OPINION
Fabinho was fantastic against Manchester United and his display really proved what an asset he could potentially be for Klopp this season. The 25-year-old midfield ran the show by all accounts against Man United as he ensured his side controlled the midfield while fired passes forward that his left his opponents divided. Given that display it seems easy to understand why Neville seems to be suggesting the Anfield faithful are starting to see the best of the midfielder. In some of his earlier displays, Fabinho did seem to struggle with adapting to the tempo of the Premier League but after experiencing it more and more he seems to adjust in expert fashion. Hopefully the midfielder continues to go from strength to strength as the season progresses as you feel he may be able to play a vital part in Klopp be able to guide his side to trophies this season. The German knows that having an all-round midfielder like Fabinho to call upon will greatly aid him.
