When Liverpool completed the move to bring the young hot prospect Fabio Carvalho to Merseyside, it was seen as a coup. They had captured one of the best young talents in England before any of their rivals could act.
Alongside Harvey Elliot they had two teenagers that could contribute to the side right now and would be long-term pieces for the next generation. While Elliot had a strong start to the season being featured on a regular basis, Carvalho was brought along more slowly.
His game time was limited, but when he did make it onto the pitch it was clear he had a skillset that would always make him a threat to any defense. When given a handful of minutes to make an impression, there is an extra weight on a player’s shoulders. However, Carvalho seemed to embrace each opportunity as he showed little fear as he tried to drive forward as often as possible.
Perhaps his best moment so far is his 98th minute winner he scored against Newcastle United at Anfield. It was seen as a potential crucial 3 points in what was hoped to be a title challenge, but that never came to fruition.
As the season progressed, Carvalho was frozen out of the side and found any playing time hard to come by. At 20 years old, sitting in the stands is not how he can develop his clear talents.
With Liverpool needing a revamp this summer, and multiple players soon to arrive, Carvalho might have found playing time even harder to come by. This makes the news of his move to RB Leipzig on a one year loan great to hear.
Leipzig play one of the more attractive styles in Germany as they are always looking to attack and play attractive football. This suits Carvalho splendidly. With Christopher Nkunku departing, and Liverpool deep in talks for Dominik Szoboszlai, there will be a hole for a creative attacker.
It’s an opportunity at a major club in a strong league to make his mark and elevate his game. The 2024-25 Liverpool side will be true beneficiaries if Carvalho can become a regular this season. The youngster has a chance to renew the excitement around him, and Leipzig might be the best place to light the spark.