Liverpool vs Red Star Belgrade: Bye Hendo! Fans are rapt with Fabinho’s performance

Liverpool fans are rapt with Fabinho’s performance against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League. Does it mean an end for Jordan Henderson?

The Brazilian was picked to start alongside Gini Wijnaldum in the heart of the Reds’ defense and produced a barnstorming performance as Jurgen Klopp’s lads dispatched Red Star 4-0.

Mohamed Salah scored two either side of Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane strikes, but the game was set up thanks to how Fabinho went about his 90 minutes.

With nine tackles, the former AS Monaco destroyer made more than any other player in the entire round of Champions League fixtures. Talk about proving yourself on the biggest stage.

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Liverpool paid big bucks for the Brazilian in the summer transfer window, and Klopp has remained cool, calm and collected about his ability even if the manager made fans wait to see him in action.

Just as Andy Robertson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was made to wait until he was fully adjusted before being handed a first team chance, the same process is being followed with Fabinho. And now it looks to be paying off.

But what does his performance mean for Henderson, who missed the game through injury. It will be extremely tempting to go with the Brazilian for the Cardiff City clash at the weekend, but if Henderson is available he should be considered.

For a start, both are different players and offer separate skill sets to the team. Fabinho is more of a pure defensive midfielder, and playing both could allow Henderson to spend more time in slightly advanced positions, where his range of passing can be utilized more effectively.

So calls to see the England midfielder dropped are definitely premature, even if it’s encouraging to see a big money player start to adapt to a new city, new team and new way of life with an excellent performance in front of a massive home crowd.