Liverpool changed tactics since Fabinho injury – can he adapt?

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Liverpool made a subtle change to their tactics after Fabinho picked up his injury. The Brazilian can thrive in the new setup, though.

Jordan Henderson took over the holding midfield role in Fabinho’s absence and Liverpool actually improved. But he has played it slightly differently than Liverpool’s £39m signing.

Now, instead of simply shielding the defence, Henderson drops back into the right of a back three when Liverpool start moves. It’s a very subtle change but its benefits are obvious.

It means Liverpool have a better base to build with, now having a wide back three. It also means Trent Alexander-Arnold can immediately push forward and think about attacking now that there’s proper cover behind him.

And if Liverpool lose the ball in their half, they have three defenders at the back rather than two with one in front, as well as keeping that Virgil van Dijk/Joe Gomez partnership intact.

All of that might sound like overthinking but the improvement defensively is obvious. Liverpool kept two clean sheets with Fabinho in the holding role but with the change of tactics and Henderson there, they’ve kept eight.

Few would argue that Henderson is a superior defender to Fabinho – the change is as much about tactics and Henderson’s ability to adapt.

So the question is: can Fabinho play that role? All signs point to yes. In fact, it may suit him perfectly.

Fabinho was, after all, a right-back earlier in his career before the move to defensive midfield. He was also previously a centre-half.

So, in theory, he should be ideally suited to playing a role that encompasses all of those positions. Liverpool have moved up a gear with the change – as subtle as it is – and they may move up another one with Fabinho there.