Michael Owen feels Fabinho would make Klopp’s top five Liverpool players

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Michael Owen believes Fabinho sits as one of Jurgen Klopp’s top five Liverpool players right now. It’s hard to disagree with him on this one.

Is Fabinho one of the top five players at Liverpool right now? Michael Owen certainly seems to think so after the Brazilian’s display against Leicester City on Thursday evening.

It’s easy to see why, too. Fabinhio was remarkable against the Foxes, picking up seven interceptions – the same amount as every other starting midfielder combined. And that was on top of the match-high four tackles he won.

Fabinhio was simply everywhere, breaking up attacks and helping to tick possession over. A brilliant performance – and exactly what you expect from him these days.

His influence on Liverpool’s second goal was particularly impressive. Fabinho won the ball back incredibly high up the pitch, essentially creating the chance. The Reds then worked the ball through to Diogo Jota who scored.

Owen was full of praise after watching it back.

“I think [Fabinho] is such a vital player in this team,” he told BT Sport. “I bet you, Jurgen Klopp, if he was playing a Champions League final tomorrow and he was sticking his players in there.

“[Virgil] Van Dijk would be in there, [Mohamed] Salah would be there – I tell you, Fabinho would be right up there in terms of top five players for the team.”

Fabinho – Liverpool star

We don’t think there’s any real doubt about this. If there were, last season put them firmly to bed.

Liverpool’s centre-back crisis led to Klopp starting Fabinho at the back. Things fell apart, however, and the boss put him back in his natural holding midfielder role by March. The result was an instant turnaround as Liverpool push on to secure a top-four finish.

We’d have Fabinho down as the best defensive midfielder on the planet since his £39m arrival. Once he fully adapted to the club, there was no turning back and he’s become irreplaceable at the back.

So Owen’s absolutely right – Fabinho is one of the first names in the best-XI. But that shouldn’t surprise anyone at this point.