LONDON • While an untimely series of injuries has left Jurgen Klopp short-handed at the back, the Liverpool manager knows in Fabinho, he has a player as comfortable in defence as he is in midfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold joined a growing casualty list after suffering a knee injury during last weekend's 1-0 win at Brighton, and could be out for up to a month. The decision to loan Nathaniel Clyne to Bournemouth for the season has been questioned, with Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren still working their way back to fitness.
But, while Joel Matip is expected to be back in the squad for today's Premier League game at home to Crystal Palace since fracturing his collarbone during their Champions League win over Napoli on Dec 11, Klopp can afford to resist throwing him into the fray given Fabinho's "defensive brain".
It has taken the Brazil midfielder, signed in the summer for £39 million (S$68.4 million), time to adapt to English football. He made his league debut only in October, but Klopp never had any doubts the "brilliant player" would become a vital cog as Liverpool chase their first league title in 29 years.
The German said: "To have a good footballer in that position when you have the ball is great. He can play in a lot of positions."
The 25-year-old, who was instrumental alongside Virgil van Dijk in defence as the Reds kept a 13th clean sheet in 22 league games at the Amex Stadium to maintain a four-point cushion over champions Manchester City, also saw his switch to "centre-back coming".
He told the club website: "Some weeks ago, I knew this could be an option because we had some players injured. I had some training sessions playing in that position, which helped me adapt better and pick up aspects like positioning and movements."
Another player who will have a key role in helping the table-toppers maintain the league's best defensive record - only 10 goals conceded - against Roy Hodgson's men is left-back Andy Robertson.
The Scotland captain was rewarded on Thursday with a new contract until 2024, after a string of fine performances to cement his starting position in the team.
Klopp said the 24-year-old, who "screams Liverpool", put pen to paper "in almost record time", and Robertson revealed the decision was a "no-brainer".
He said: "I want to stay. As soon as they put an offer on the table, it was signed as quickly as that."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
LIVERPOOL V CRYSTAL PALACE
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, 11pm
Report Ad
Free Shipping Available. Buy on eBay. Money Back Guarantee!
Football: Spain court acquits former FC Barcelona president
Check out for the latest news on 2019 Asian Cup football along with 2019 Asian Cup football live news at Times of India Japan coach disappointed but pleased with progress at Asian Cup
AFC Asian Cup 2019: UAE semifinal will be our toughest
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard says team have 'hell of a lot of work to do' Facebook; League but said his team had work to do. them reformed in the bottom tier of Scottish football in 2012.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard says team have 'hell of a lot of
tv5.espn.com/football/rangers/story/3568985/rangers-boss-steven-gerrard-says-team-have-hell-of-a-lot-of-work-to-do
"I am pleased with the one side of the game, but there is certainly a hell of a lot of work to do on the other." The 38-year-old former Liverpool great singled out new centre-backs Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic, as well as returning goalkeeper Allan McGregor, for praise after the match at the Philip II Arena in the Macedonian capital.
Southgate: 'We have a hell of a lot of work to do' - Football365
German students use a carnival float depicting environmental activist Greta Thunberg during a school strike to demand action on climate change on March 15, 2019. the kids have revealed a new
New Kids On The Block - This One's for the Children - YouTube
England captain Harry Kane wants to end career as NFL kicker Harry Kane is a fan of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and was at the Super Bowl this year, watching from the stands as the
England captain Kane wants to end career as NFL kicker
Liverpool dig deep to return to top of Premier League Liverpool go top with 3-2 win at Newcastle; Man City to face Leicester on Monday Night Football
Sarri: 'Chelsea hard to motivate' By Football Italia staff Maurizio Sarri was furious with "difficult to motivate" Chelsea after a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, but insisted he knows nothing about
Furious Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea players lack motivation
Everton had 22 shots against Crystal Palace, only three of which were on target. Everton lost ground in the race for seventh place in the Premier League as they were held to a goalless draw by
Everton held to goalless draw at Palace | Football News
Football: Man City fans wary of United and suspect defence, Liverpool supporters fear fatigue and Magpies
Nicole Chia, News & Top Stories - The Straits Times
Burnley manager Sean Dyche praised McNeil and was also upbeat about his team's chances of staying in the top flight. Burnley boost survival hopes with 2-0 win over Wolves Home
Football Federation Australia hailed the move as "an outcome that delivers on the gender equity principle of 'same base pay for same base work'." "This means that players in the Westfield W-League and Hyundai A-League will receive the same minimum remuneration hourly rate," said FFA Head of Leagues Greg O'Rourke.
Australian female players to earn same base pay as men
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group D - Republic of Ireland v Gibraltar - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - June 10, 2019 Republic of Ireland's Robbie Brady celebrates scoring th
Euro 2020 qualifier - Ireland need own goal to scrape past
Football: Palace's Zaha banned for referee sarcastic clap
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen