In the midst of an injury crisis affecting Liverpool FC’s backline adversely this season, Fabinho has slotted in at the central defender spot with ease, helping his side sail through a gruesome fixture list on the back of his solid defensive showings.
His return to the Liverpool FC XI on Sunday in the 3-0 win over Leicester City was the player’s first appearance in nearly a month following his minor hamstring injury, but the Brazillian international looked as composed and calm as he does despite a lengthy period on the sidelines.
Fabinho’s change in position has garnered praise for the player, especially the fact that he has adjusted to his new role on the pitch in a swift yet fantastic manner, but the 26-year-old admitted in a recent interview to Liverpoolfc.com that he gives his utmost concentration for the entirety of the 90 minutes whilst turning out in the centre-back position.
“Centre-half, I try to be always in good communication with my teammates – Joel, Robbo, the players around me. They help me a lot,” he said.
“We knew we were playing against a very good team and a very dangerous striker [Jamie Vardy] but the communication was very important for that as well.
“I know in this position I have to be concentrated every minute of the game and I’m happy because we kept the clean sheet.
Jurgen Klopp has indeed been lucky to call upon a player of Fabinho’s calibre in times like these for the Merseysiders, with as many as three first-choice defensive stars in Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Trent Alexander Arnold all being sidelined for the next two months at the least.
