Graeme Souness calls for Klopp to start Fabinho against Chelsea

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Graeme Souness has told Sky Sports that Liverpool need to bring back Fabinho into their team ahead of Thursday night’s clash with Chelsea.

Fabinho, 27, has missed the Reds’ previous four matches with a muscle injury. However, the Brazilian was back in training on Saturday, with Jurgen Klopp confident he’ll be back for the visit of Thomas Tuchel at Anfield.

Souness on Fabinho

And Souness believes that Klopp should integrate the £39 million [BBC] man from Monaco back into Liverpool’s defensive contingent as soon as possible.

“You’re only as strong as your weakest link in the football team. They looked a bit vulnerable to a couple of long balls and flick-ons tonight,” Souness said, per Sunday Sunday, which was broadcast on Sky Sports.

“They’ll be [up against] a bigger threat on Thursday night when they play Chelsea and you’ve got to play him [Fabinho] at the back.”

What RTK has to say

We can see where Souness is coming from, especially with Chelsea rapidly on the horizon.

Indeed, Ozan Kabak and Nathaniel Phillips performed well together to secure a first PL clean sheet since January 17. Still, this wasn’t to say they weren’t made to look vulnerable at times against Sheffield United.

With Chelsea and Tuchel more tactically and technically adept than the Blades, Liverpool have little room for error in midweek.

So, it makes sense for Klopp to opt for experience when Tuchel comes to town. Fabinho, after all, was outstanding against Chelsea during the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge back in September.

Timo Werner couldn’t get as much as a sniff against Liverpool’s midfield powerhouse. We hope for more of the same when Fabinho returns to the starting XI on Thursday.