Liverpool player who’s ‘miles off the pace’ will love Jurgen Klopp’s new plan – RTK View

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Fabinho should love Jurgen Klopp’s new plan at Liverpool. The midfielder has been accused of being ‘miles off’ his best.

Fabinho hasn’t started the season in great form. Of course, few at Liverpool have but the Brazilian doesn’t look like his usual self at all.

The Reds are particularly susceptible to counter-attacks and breaks through the middle in transition. Fabinho’s primary role is to stop both but he’s finding himself isolated and unable to prevent sweeping moves through the middle.

It led to Jamie Carragher claiming that Fabinho is ‘miles off’ the pace right now. Fortunately, it appears Jurgen Klopp is heading in a direction the Brazilian will love.

Fabinho should love new Liverpool plan

Klopp made a big decision in midweek as he shifted Liverpool to a 4-4-2 against Rangers. The move away from 4-3-3 is almost unprecedented under the boss, who has stuck rigidly to that formation since arriving at the club.

Almost unprecedented. Klopp has done it before back in the 2018/19 season. Liverpool played a lot of 4-2-3-1 that season – not far off the 4-4-2 we’re seeing now.

He appears to do it for one key reason, too – to help Fabinho. The Brazilian had arrived from AS Monaco that summer but wasn’t used to the Reds’ 4-3-3. This new system asked him to play as the sole sitting midfielder with extra responsibility. Fabinho, though, was used to playing in a two-man sitting midfield in France.

Thus Klopp shifted things around and it wasn’t until March 2019 that Fabinho started a big game in a 4-3-3. He was more comfortable in that two and we think it could have a similar effect this season.

Liverpool leak goals and lack solidity. Fabinho is struggling to hold things together. Much like in 2018, the Reds look likely to switch into a two-man midfield and allow the holding player some help.

As a result, Fabinho could see a return to form. It remains to be seen if Klopp sticks with this system long-term but for now, it could do Liverpool’s no.3 some good.