What Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool staff really felt about Fabinho’s drop in form last season

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Jurgen Klopp is not at all worried by Fabinho’s drop-off in form for Liverpool last season.

Fabinho looked woefully short of the physicality needed to anchor the Reds midfield for much of the 2022/23 campaign. With Liverpool generally off-kilter, the Brazilian was a shadow of his former dominating self.

This has led to fairly legitimate concerns that Fabinho’s best days are now behind him. However, according to a report from The Athletic today, Klopp doesn’t see that as being the case.

Although it’s claimed that the 29-year-old’s dip in form was noted by Jurgen and his staff, no concerns were reportedly ‘flagged up’ in Fabinho’s physical data. Essentially, the stats are said to have shown him to still be in decent shape.

Instead, the Reds coaches are said to put their No.3’s poor form down to a loss in the team’s structure more generally.

The inference is that with a more settled team around him, Klopp expects Fabinho to get back to his best.

Klopp not concerned over Fabinho dip

If Liverpool can get Fabinho playing like he has for most of the last five years again, it will make untold amounts of difference.

It has perhaps been forgotten after his struggles last season. But on form, the Brazil international is one of the best in his position in the world. He’s been absolutely key to everything good Liverpool have done since his arrival.

One poor season doesn’t change that fact. With new legs around him, you can see Fabinho being re-energised.

As Liverpool go through a midfield rebuild, it would be helpful if the former Monaco man can come back to being the reliable defensive midfielder he always was.

If he can, the Reds will look like a different side immediately.

In that respect, it’s encouraging that Klopp and his coaches still retain faith in Fabinho. Watching him last season, it is hard to see how there were no questions over his physical performance. He was bypassed time after time week upon week.

But if Jurgen, Pep Lijnders and the rest aren’t concerned, then we aren’t either. At the very least, Fabinho deserves the chance to prove them right. In light of today’s updates though, he may not get that opportunity. Saudi Arabia could await for more than one Liverpool midfielder this summer.