Former England midfielder Ray Parlour couldn’t believe that Fabinho didn’t start for Liverpool against Manchester United last night.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Parlour said that Jurgen Klopp’s decision to bench the Brazilian for Liverpool had ‘amazed’ him.
“I was surprised that Fabinho didn’t start, he’s one of their best players,” said the pundit. “He’s a real star from set plays as well, he’ll always nick you a goal, so I was a little bit amazed by that. But Jurgen Klopp knows his squad better than all us guys so he knows exactly what’s going on in the squad himself.”
Parlour won’t have been the only one to raise an eyebrow at Klopp’s team selection. Usually such a mainstay in the team, if he’s available, Fabinho rarely misses the biggest games.
Fabinho looking rusty, but has to play through it
There was some justification for Klopp’s decision to drop Fabinho. The 28-year-old was way off the pace last time out against Crystal Palace and was largely at fault for Wilfried Zaha’s goal that night.
Against Fulham the previous week he had also looked rusty. On that day he was taken off before the hour having failed to cope with the opposition’s midfield.
So, it wasn’t completely out of the blue to see him taken out of the starting eleven on Monday night.
However, what was far less understandable was that Klopp chose to do it against United at Old Trafford. Even more baffling when you consider the injuries at the current time, and the trio that were eventually selected.
Liverpool couldn’t afford to lose Fabinho given the players missing at the moment. To voluntarily take him out the team in one of the biggest games of the season was just bizarre.
Perhaps there was a niggle that we don’t know about and the Brazil international was just being protected. But Klopp gave no mention of any knock to his no.3.
As if any more were needed, Liverpool got another reminder of Fabinho’s importance last night. At this current moment he simply has to be in the team.
It remains to be seen if any other options return to Klopp’s midfield during this week. But whoever does or does not return, Fabinho has got to play on Saturday. No debate.
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