£39m Liverpool defensive duo have one Premier League title test left

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The new defensive partnership at Liverpool has one title test left. They look almost capable of delivering the Premier League title.

Could the current defensive duo at Liverpool deliver the Premier League title? On ability, we think they absolutely could.

The rest of the team is capable of winning the title at a canter, of course. They all did so last season, other than Thiago and Diogo Jota – but we’re sure they won’t exactly hurt things.

Things just lie on the defensive partnership. It should have been Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez but long-term injuries rule them out this season.

So that leaves Fabinho and Joel Matip. The former isn’t even a centre-half and the latter played just 13 times last season.

And yet we feel confident saying that they can deliver the title on their current performances. Matip is excellent, after all, while Fabinho looks like a natural in the role.

They compliment one another, too. Fabinho is the rash, tough tackler who steps out to stop attackers. Matip prefers covering, playing a calmer game alongside him.

The two were wonderful against Wolves, for instance. We gave both of them 9s in our player ratings.

We wouldn’t sway them for anyone else in the league right now. So they can help Liverpool win this title – if they pass one more test.

Title test

Unfortunately, we won’t really know if they pass this test until the end of the season. It’s just a question of fitness.

As we said, Matip played only 13 games last season. Fabinho, too, has had two spells out within the last year.

But as they’re the only remaining centre-halves, Liverpool desperately need them to stay fit this season. So that’s their test.

Can they push through pain barriers and hold onto good luck to play virtually every game this season? We really don’t know. It seems unlikely, given their records.

But this is Liverpool. They can pull off the improbable – even the impossible. Hopefully, then, Matip and Fabinho can upset the odds and remain injury free this season.