OPINION
Liverpool did not emerge from Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers with too many positives, but the performance of midfielder Fabinho was certainly one.
The Brazilian was pressed into duty at centre back alongside Dejan Lovren in order to give Virgil van Dijk a rare night off, but saw the Croatian depart after just six minutes with a hamstring injury.
The former Monaco man then had to marshal the centre of the defence – an unfamiliar position for him – alongside a 16-year-old making his senior debut.
When you consider all of that you have to say that the 25-year-old’s performance was astonishing. He rarely looked flustered as he produced one of his finest displays in a Liverpool shirt. He didn’t put a foot wrong, it was terrific to watch.
The player’s performances over the past couple of months seem a million miles away from the uncertainty that surrounded the Brazil international early in his Anfield tenure.
Jurgen Klopp was patient with Fabinho, he took his time before deciding to put him in the team. When the midfielder did emerge, one or two dodgy displays saw him lambasted by fans.
It’s remarkable to think of how far he’s come, because he must now be considered one of Klopp’s untouchables. Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah (or the entire front three) are the undisputed starters in their areas of the pitch, and Fabinho must be considered that man in midfield.
We saw against Manchester City recently how much the Reds missed Fabinho. The Brazilian was languishing on the bench while James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum struggled to get to grips with the champions.
Anyone can see that it was a mistake not to start Fabinho against City, and his value to this Liverpool team was only enhanced by his performance on Monday.
With Lovren now sidelined, alongside his fellow centre halves Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, the midfielder could be set to reprise his role at centre back against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
On Monday’s evidence, however, Liverpool fans should have no worries about a positional change for a once-polarising player who is now undroppable for Klopp.
