The frustrating thing is, 2 years ago he was better than all of them.
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Never been a great play maker as a 6 but did his job well, but has always lacked pace, but it seems his legs have gone
Fabinho is contracted till 2026 and presumably on a generous wage too. He will be 29 this month, so thereās probably a few good years left in him. However, we have to consider if this is the best he can offer and if his best is good enough for us.
Fabinho alongside Wijnaldum and a prime Henderson was awesome. But thatās in the past.
The way his form has dropped off a cliff is alarming, and it makes me wonder if he is carrying something long term. Remembering how he was rushed back for the champions league final, and that canāt have helped.
Plays great for a few weeks then is poor for several months. Been this way ever since he joined. Needs to be replaced.
I think thatās harsh. Through the CL/PL winning campaigns, Iād have put him up there with Alisson, Van Dijk, Trent and Salah as the bedrock of a world class team. Was brilliant last year as well.
Thatās three years ago. He was poor at the start of last season too, improved a lot after Christmas.
19/20 we actually improved when Fabinho was injured and Henderson went to the base of the midfield. There was a reason he was dropped for the Atletico second leg, and it coincided with a massive improvement in performance. He was terrible after returning from injury but excuses were still being made for him 6-8 weeks after coming back into the side.
Itās right to say he has never been consistent.
Wouldnāt say he was ever poor for several months. But, he didnāt manage so far to have a full season of consistent and injury free performances. Nothing major (apart from his start when he couldnāt get in), but a few weeks here and there. Heās not at his best right now, but I donāt think he will be replaced. But with the arrival of a new midfielder (or two, maximum) next summer, Hendo (or if that new player or two have in the possibility to play that role also) might be more of a direct threat to his starter status.
Iāve never been a big fan of Declan Rice but I thought he looked a much more accomplished midfielder than two of Liverpoolās starters.
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He was no better than Hendo, good player is Rice but he was nowhere to be seen that 1st half.
Three midfielders will leave as their contracts run down.
There are question marks over the three remaining older ones too, at least to one degree or another. Henderson probably reverts to the Milner role as we move forward, and he will come in to close games out. Thiago will hopefully stay as heās imperious, but the niggly injuries he gets will only increase. Fabinho at his best is easily worth a place in the team, never mind squad, but he is way below that.
With a stronger midfield group available now, my suspicion is Fabinho would have a good rest and minor treatment, but come back right as rain. But with depleted numbers he just plays on, and unfortunately looks worse and worse, as he isnāt giving his best.
The question is whether or not it is form, or if his level has dropped, or whether the team is evolving, and he canāt cover as much ground if it is a two, and not a three, so he looks slower again?
Personally Iād love to see Bellingham come in, and either Caicedo or Kone.
It would be very expensive, but it sorts the present, no matter what happens with any of the older trio I named, and it sorts the future, along with the younger midfielders we have.
Still, hereās hoping Fabinho turns it around. As a comparison, Mo has started to look more like his old self lately, after quite some time below par.
Playing like a 40 year old this season. Shame with all our injuries we canāt dropped.
Surely Bajcetic would offer more in games like today.
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I was thinking about this today.
How many of our midfielders should feel comfortable theyāre guaranteed a place in the first-team squad next season based on current performance/fitness?
Iād say one. Harvey Elliott. Every other one of them could have no complaints if they were moved on based on current form/fitness.
It wont work like that of course. A few will go, a few will be phased out over a year or two and hopefully one or two will either regain lost form or develop into the player we hoped.
One thing is for sure, as a group this midfield is done and only major investment will cure that.
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Isnāt he the only one who hasnāt been injured yet this season?
His drop in form is really puzzling. He didnāt play too much last season like VVD, Trent, or Salah.
Turned 29 last week and under contract until 2026. Doubt Klopp is thinking about replacing him and bringing another specialist DM in.
Feeling sorry for him because he used to have peak Hendo and Duracell Gini covering so much ground around him - not the same nowadays with Harvey and Thiago.
Played RB a fair bit at Monaco, get him switched with Trent.
Oke, try to sell him to a team in Italy like we dit with Lucas whom I loved dearly ā¦