Talented Fabio Carvalho shines during Liverpool's USA Tour

As Liverpool wrapped up its tour in the USA, the club won all three matches before returning to England and facing the upcoming Premier League season, including beating La Liga’s Real Betis, Arsenal and Manchester United in 1-0, 2-1 and 3-0. Despite taking no actions in the transfer market during the offseason, Liverpool is proud of having talents and reserves from its academy and other teams it loaned to. As manager Arne Slot plotted most of them to these exhibitions, Fabio Carvalho emerged to shine on the pitch. 

Talented Fabio Carvalho shines during Liverpool's USA Tour

The 21-year Portuguese international is enjoying his confidence boost during the team’s American trip, scoring back-to-back goals against Arsenal and United. With Cody Gakpo and Luiz Diaz awaiting to join training camp, Carvalho is expected to showcase more to the Kopties this upcoming season, though they have the same position as those mentioned.

Who is Fabio Carvalho?

Carvalho was born in Torres Vedras, Portugal, in 2002. He initially built up his football track in the youth academy of Olivais Sul and Benfica. At the age of 11, he moved with his family to South London, signing with Fulham in 2015 and later earning his first professional contract with the club in 2020. In the 2021-2022 EFL season, he scored three goals in the first five matches, awarding him the EFL Young Player of the Month for August 2021.

Carvalho joined Liverpool in July 2022, where he quickly made an impact by scoring in a 9-0 victory over Bournemouth and a match-winning goal against Newcastle United. In the 2023-24 season, he had a brief loan stint with RB Leipzig before moving to Hull City on loan in January 2024. At Hull, he scored five goals in seven appearances, earning the EFL Young Player of the Month award for a second time.

How did Fabio Carvalho impress on the US tour?

Despite Carvalho expressing his preference for playing in the middle, Slot determined the left wing would be fit for him while having a sophisticated Harvey Elliot to orchestrate as a midfielder. As the trip revealed, he was impressed with some dynamics of the position, scoring two goals against two PL rivals.

The first one came from his swift move with early prediction. Initiated by Elliot, who got the ball upside the box, Carvalho intentionally retreated backward and then faked out most Arsenal defenders with a sudden move forward, loading the volley pass and finishing at ease; Carvalho’s second goal completely represented his full talent with the ball and composure. Against United, he juked out Casemiro and finished calmly with space, stunning the opponent at the beginning of the match.

Considering the depth of the squad and tough competitors, especially Gakpo, who shined in the Euro 2024, Carvalho might not be likely to earn a starter spot in Liverpool next season. But he is expected to be a favorable reserve under Slot’s tenure, who is clear to stay with the Reds after the club rejected Southampton’s interest in him.