Jurgen Klopp will not rest Fabinho against Aston Villa this weekend, according to The Athletic journalist Simon Hughes.
The Liverpool enforcer is on the cusp of a suspension having already picked up four yellow cards in the Premier League so far this season, and should he be given a fifth at Villa Park on Saturday, he would miss the crucial clash against Manchester City on November 10th.
But Hughes has suggested that Klopp will throw caution to the wind and keep faith in the 26-year-old.
When asked about the potential for resting Fabinho during a Q&A for The Athletic, he said: “A very big call but Klopp tends not to make those sort of cautious decisions.”
OPINION
This is a nerve-wracking one for Liverpool fans. You can certainly understand the logic behind resting Fabinho on Saturday, with that crunch clash with Man City looming, but there are no easy games in the Premier League, and were his omission to backfire, it could be disastrous for Klopp. The Brazilian has established himself as one of the finest midfielders in Europe this season. His average of 2.8 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, and a pass completion rate of 87.5%, as per Whoscored, show just how important he is to the way this Liverpool side play. His breaking up of play, coupled with his eye for a pass, make him the perfect foundation on which to build attacks, but with that reward, there also comes risk. Disciplinary issues are a natural by-product of Fabinho’s high intensity game, and he will have to tread a tightrope at Villa Park. If he were to miss the City match, it could be a massive disadvantage for the Reds.
