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that Fabinho is a huge reason towards the Merseyside outfit overcoming an injury crisis which has seen the Reds lose Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez to long-term knee injuries.
With Gomez and van Dijk fighting to feature again this season, Fabinho has been forced to surrender his usual holding midfield position to play at centre-back. Liverpool do have cover in Joel Matip, and rookies Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams.
But on Sunday, Matip suffered an injury and it remains to be seen if he will be fit to play against Tottenham. It means the Brazilian is set to play at centre-back again – alongside either Jordan Henderson, Phillips or Williams.
Skipper Henderson believes the form and standards of Fabinho has been a huge part in Liverpool retaining their excellent form despite the injuries to van Dijk and Gomez. He raved about the Brazilian’s versatility in the pre-Spurs programme.
“This campaign has presented Fab with a different challenge to the one he is to since coming to Liverpool and he has responded to it magnificently,” about £100k-a-week () Fabinho. “It isn’t surprising. Fab is a top-class professional.
“His skillset lends itself to playing in a number of roles. But his consistency has been incredible. The standards he has set have helped us to cope better than many had expected with the injury problems we are having.”
TBR’s view – Has Fabinho become Liverpool’s most-important player?
Alisson is crucial between the sticks and his absence has been felt, with Adrian struggling. In attack, the injury suffered by Diogo Jota is a blow and they lacked his ability to create something out of nothing against Fulham on Sunday.
But given that Liverpool have lost arguably their best player in van Dijk, and then the club’s next-best defender in Gomez, Fabinho has become absolutely pivotal to their title pursuit. That is because without Fabinho, Liverpool become much weaker.
Phillips, Williams and even Henderson have done well on occasion at centre-back, but that has been alongside a Matip or a Fabinho. Keeping Fabinho fit, with Matip injured, is absolutely crucial – or it will be two rookies at centre-back, not just one.
