Fabinho stakes his claim for starting role

Fabinho was signed for a handsome fee in the summer, with most Liverpool fans quick to point out how much quality he has. Those fans have been somewhat quieter in recent months.

The truth is it’s taken the Brazilian some time to adapt to Merseyside and Jurgen Klopp’s demands. This is perhaps only natural and should have been expected factoring in the cases of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andy Robertson.

It’s well known that Klopp prefers to work with his players and drill into them exactly what he’s looking for before unleashing them.

Unleashing is perhaps the most fitting word for Fabinho following on from his Red Star performance.

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The imposing midfielder bossed the middle of the park from a defensive standpoint, allowing Liverpool to link all areas of the field and control the game. Aside from the fact that he could have picked up a booking on roughly four occasions, it was a strong performance.

Although he will be viewed as a ‘number six’, Fabinho in fact can offer much more to the side. Many fans (wrongly) jump to criticize Jordan Henderson for sideways and backways passes. While this is something Fabinho does, his first instinct is often forwards.

A player that can break a line in midfield with a quick forward pass is invaluable to Liverpool. The front three thrive off quick transitions that allow the opposition no time to set themselves.

If Fabinho can prove he has the vision to quickly link play, not just simply win the ball and retain possession, it could be a game changer for the Reds.

With Oxlade-Chamberlain out for most, if not all, of the season, Liverpool have already lost a player that is pivotal to how Klopp wants has side to attack through committing players through the middle.

If they can gain a player that can feed the attack minded players quicker, this can alleviate some of the problems.

The question is, where does Fabinho fit in? Gini Wijnaldum has really stepped up this season and kicked on. James Milner continues to impress despite a recent dip when overplayed, and Jordan Henderson is club captain.

The answer? Trick question. They all fit in and play their part. It’s a long season and Liverpool need a whole host of players to be successful on multiple fronts this year.