88% passing, 2 tackles: Liverpool’s much-criticised ‘problem’ player is finally back to his best

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Fabinho hasn’t been at his best this season but the Liverpool midfielder found his form v Napoli last night. Hopefully, this continues.

This hasn’t been an easy season for Fabinho. He’s found himself isolated and exposed in midfield, with Liverpool’s press failing to protect him. It’s not a simple job he has – the sole defensive midfielder in a team that presses high.

But that’s not to say Fabinho has been good individually. He’s struggled badly at times, making mistakes and looking very slow on the ball. That’s led to various pundits picking him out.

Jamie Carragher was one of those. He labelled Fabinho a ‘problem’ earlier this season, saying he was ‘miles off the pace’. He questioned him again after Liverpool lost to Nottingham Forest. And honestly, he was right to do so.

Changes in formation haven’t brought his best – and might have hurt Fabinho in the long-run. The lack of consistency in the side makes it hard for him to develop defensive patterns with teammates.

Fortunately, though, we saw Fabinho near his best against Napoli on Tuesday evening. Perhaps this is a sign that he’s finally finding form.

Fabinho v Napoli

Statistically, Fabinho looked good. He completed 88 per cent of his passes, won two tackles and made three interceptions. Nothing to complain about there.

But that does somewhat show that stats can’t explain Fabinho’s performances on their own. That statline is very similar to what we saw against Leeds United – a game in which he didn’t play well.

So really, the big tell that Fabinho played well is that Napoli had plenty of the ball at Anfield but never really threatened through the middle. They have pace and power on the counter-attack but couldn’t make the most of it. Liverpool also didn’t give it away in midfield particularly often – and Fabinho was a big reason for that.

That’s more like Liverpool at their best. Napoli were forced to use the wide areas but didn’t get too much luck there, either. It is, after all, far more difficult to create from out wide than directly through the middle.

Liverpool have conceded far too much through a weak centre this season. Keeping arguably Europe’s on-form side at bay, though, suggests improvement. Fabinho is the one who should get the majority of the praise for that.