Jurgen Klopp points out Fabinho’s early struggles when he joined Liverpool from AS Monaco

Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Fabinho has been one of the standout performers for the Reds this season. Apart from carrying out his defensive responsibilities at the base of the midfield, Fabinho has also scored six goals along with an assist in the 27 appearances this season.

Fabinho has been a trailblazer in his defensive and creative duties. His role as a deep-lying playmaker has been crucial for the Jurgen Klopp led side. But recently the German tactician highlighted how Fabinho initially struggled with the gameplay and took some time to adapt to the situation at Anfield.

The Brazilian midfielder joined Liverpool in 2018 from French outfit AS Monaco. Despite a slow start, Fabinho has been brilliant for the Reds recently. Klopp pointed out the trouble a new player needs to go through after joining the Merseyside outfit. He gave the example of Fabinho and how the Brazilian went through a lot before finally performing his best for the Reds.

“I think the best example is maybe Fabinho; when he came here it was for him really tricky to adapt to the way we play, the system we play with one six instead of a double six and all these kind of things. So he had to adapt to it. We tried to help him but it was not that we could do that overnight.”

Klopp feels the value of the player is irrelevant if the club cannot give them the ideal situation for the player to develop and grow. “If a player with the value of £40m, £50m, £60m, whatever, £30m, £20m, they all have quality, the same quality but you can’t create a situation for them, the situation has to be there. When they arrive, then they need to join, in an ideal world, a settled team and then they can help them to make the next step.”

Fabinho has been a trailblazer for the Reds in recent times. He scored against Burnley recently. The Brazil international has been a menace in the penalty box from set pieces for Liverpool. Klopp pointed out how Fabinho could have scored more goals had he placed him in the final third during set piece situations. Fabinho has scored five goals in his last seven matches.

When asked about his goalscoring form, Klopp asserted, “Actually he probably would have already scored much more goals for Liverpool if I would have put him in the box in offensive set-pieces: only recently we put him in and since then he scores! Great goal, an absolutely great goal.”