OPINION
Jamie Carragher heaped praise on Liverpool midfielder Fabinho for the impact he made in the 2-1 win over Tottenham on Sunday and was completely right in doing so.
The Sky Sports pundit revealed he thought the 25-year-old made a notable difference during the Reds’ latest win after he came off the bench to help ensure they got all three points.
Carragher pointed out that he believes Fabinho should have started against Spurs but was unsure which midfielder he would have dropped to the bench, as they’re all similar players.
“I think Fabinho has arguably been Liverpool’s best player since the turn of the year, ever since he has been in a team as a regular,” said Carragher on Sky Sports Premier League (Sunday March 31st, 19:07).
“I thought he made a difference when he came on, so that was a slight surprise (that he didn’t start).
“Yeah (asked if he should have started) but it could have been for any of the three midfielders, as there’s not a single person you point at and say he’d come in for him, but it’s Liverpool’s set-up of midfield they’re very similar players, that is the only criticism, you don’t criticise them individually.
“As you know exactly what you’re going to get.”
“But I just think since he came on, his passing, how often he wins the ball back quickly, I think he made a difference.
“So I think you will expect to see him from now until the end of the season.”
When you consider that Carragher practically drools over Fabinho’s importance then surely James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum are all surely sweating buckets about their playing time in the coming weeks.
The midfield trio started the game against Spurs and none of them individually did too much wrong.
Yet Carragher is right to suggest Fabinho offers something different, and Jurgen Klopp surely agrees, which means one of them is going have to make way for the 25-year-old.
All three are at risk of dropping to the bench in the coming weeks as a result and all of them should be fretting about their playing time taking a hit because of their Brazilian teammate.
