Rafael Benitez has claimed that Thiago Alcantara is not as good as Fabinho when it comes to putting in a tackle for Liverpool.
Fabinho has been having a torrid time of it this season. The Brazilian hasn’t got going at all and looks a shadow of his former self.
But writing for The Times, former Liverpool boss Benitez insisted that he’s still got a leg up on Thiago when it comes to tackling.
“Fabinho is a player who needs solutions around him. He is not like Thiago Alcantara who can pass to his left, right, in front or wherever because he can see all these things. But then, Thiago cannot challenge like Fabinho or provide the same balance,” said the 61-year-old.
“In Fabinho’s case, the solutions are having players around him in the right positions so he can give them the ball. If this happens then he will make fewer mistakes and can continue protecting the centre backs. He needs a bit of belief at the moment, but he is still a great player.”
Liverpool looking lost without their lighthouse
Tackling is one of Fabinho’s biggest strengths. At his best, there are very few players who can time a challenge as perfectly as the Liverpool man.
Seemingly able to nick the ball from any angle, the Reds No.3 uses his long legs to sneak into places that don’t look possible.
When coupled with his cannily good positional sense, it can be virtually impossible to get past Fabinho. Or at least, it could.
Right now, it has never been easier to shrug off one of the best defensive midfielders in the game. Whether it’s a physical issue or a mental one, Fabinho’s form has fallen off a clif.
As his role is so crucial to the way Liverpool play, this has made the whole team look worse. In years gone by, Fabinho would aid the team in pressing high up the pitch. So adept at nicking the ball back, he’d often act as the extra man in creating attacking overloads.
Should Liverpool turn the ball over with players bombing on and out of position, they could rely on the Brazil international to snuff out attacks.
Often, this would be with a perfect, and clean, tackle. But Fabinho is also well-versed in the dark arts, and isn’t afraid to take a booking for the team.
So far this season, neither of those things have been present. The 29-year-old’s mind has looked elsewhere as counterattacks consistently bypass him. Thiago, for his part, has assumed some of the role as chief tackler. But the £20m man can be rash and is too quick to go to ground.
Nobody can do it like Fabinho can. We need our lighthouse back.
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