LONDON • While an untimely series of injuries has left Jurgen Klopp short-handed at the back, the Liverpool manager knows in Fabinho, he has a player as comfortable in defence as he is in midfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold joined a growing casualty list after suffering a knee injury during last weekend's 1-0 win at Brighton, and could be out for up to a month. The decision to loan Nathaniel Clyne to Bournemouth for the season has been questioned, with Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren still working their way back to fitness.
But, while Joel Matip is expected to be back in the squad for today's Premier League game at home to Crystal Palace since fracturing his collarbone during their Champions League win over Napoli on Dec 11, Klopp can afford to resist throwing him into the fray given Fabinho's "defensive brain".
It has taken the Brazil midfielder, signed in the summer for £39 million (S$68.4 million), time to adapt to English football. He made his league debut only in October, but Klopp never had any doubts the "brilliant player" would become a vital cog as Liverpool chase their first league title in 29 years.
The German said: "To have a good footballer in that position when you have the ball is great. He can play in a lot of positions."
The 25-year-old, who was instrumental alongside Virgil van Dijk in defence as the Reds kept a 13th clean sheet in 22 league games at the Amex Stadium to maintain a four-point cushion over champions Manchester City, also saw his switch to "centre-back coming".
He told the club website: "Some weeks ago, I knew this could be an option because we had some players injured. I had some training sessions playing in that position, which helped me adapt better and pick up aspects like positioning and movements."
Another player who will have a key role in helping the table-toppers maintain the league's best defensive record - only 10 goals conceded - against Roy Hodgson's men is left-back Andy Robertson.
The Scotland captain was rewarded on Thursday with a new contract until 2024, after a string of fine performances to cement his starting position in the team.
Klopp said the 24-year-old, who "screams Liverpool", put pen to paper "in almost record time", and Robertson revealed the decision was a "no-brainer".
He said: "I want to stay. As soon as they put an offer on the table, it was signed as quickly as that."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
LIVERPOOL V CRYSTAL PALACE
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, 11pm
SINGAPORE - Albirex Niigata, of all Singapore Premier League teams, should know about the importance of momentum. After all, they won their first 17 games in the 2018 season and scored in all 24 matches to complete their hat-trick of league titles.
2018 Home United FC season - Wikipedia
The most powerful tributes to Gordon Banks came not from the team-mates who played with him, or the strikers who were thwarted by him, or the journalists who chronicled his 20-year career for club
James Ward-Prowse earns England chance as three injured stars
tellmysport.com/soccer/james-ward-prowse-earns-england-chance-as-three-injured-stars-drop-out-of-squad/
James Ward-Prowse will be called into the England squad after Gareth Southgate was hit with a string of pull-outs. John Stones, Fabian Delph and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are pulling out because of injury and will miss the Euro 2020 qualifiers with Czech Republic and Montenegro.
Latest Regional News - sportsmax.tv
Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel. Feb 23 - - Crystal Palace piled further pressure on Leicester City manager Claude Puel on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-1 Premier League win over his team, who have now gone seven games without a victory.
Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel - Reuters
Sport24 - Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said Friday that he was "honoured" to be courted by Colombia, who want the former Real Madrid boss to join them after the Asian Cup. But the Portuguese, who has been Iran coach for eight rollercoaster years, insisted that he remains committed to bringing
Iran coach Queiroz set for Colombia switch after Asian Cup
Dominic Fifield, The Guardian | Raheem Sterling in action for Manchester City against Chelsea at the weekend. Getty Images. Featured Image Chelsea face the partial closure of Stamford Bridge in the Europa League after Uefa opened disciplinary proceedings over allegations that their travelling supporters engaged in racist chanting during the draw at Vidi last month.
Chelsea facing partial Stamford Bridge closure in Europa
Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford are vital to Manchester United's future, despite rumoured interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Pogba and Rashford key to Man United's future, says Solskjaer
Chelsea boss Sarri demands more from 'individual' Hazard
It has three main sources of funding to operate: The Mayor's Homelessness Fund which has so far raised over £125,000; Tackle4MCR which has funneled £1m through the donations of Manchester City's Vincent Kompany and, finally, Big Change Manchester (Real Change Manchester in some boroughs) which is open to donations from the public.
Flipboard: He works with the homeless, is incredibly bright
Having made his debut in 2016, Hibernian striker Maclaren netted his first Socceroos goal thanks to a deft header. Rogic's left-wing cross had plenty of pace on it and Maclaren, with his back to goal, helped it on its way into the far corner beyond Rami Hamada. Shot-shy Palestine lack creative edge
AFC Asian Cup 2019: Palestine 0 Australia 3: Maclaren and
Manchester United need to do what Liverpool FC did to become a force again. Liverpool are going to go 30 years without a title and Man Utd are destined for a lengthy drought if they fall into the
Liverpool Keen on Keeping Unbeaten Run Intact against United
Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri has been charged with misconduct by the English Football Association following his touchline dismissal in the 2-2 draw against Burnley on Easter Monday. Sarri was
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri charged by FA after Burnley
A cautious Unai Emery refused to get carried away despite Paris Saint-Germain's stunning 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League. The French champions hammered Barca in the last-16 first
LIVERPOOL, England - Goals from Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino earned Liverpool a 2-0 win over Porto on Tuesday as Juergen Klopp's side took the upper hand in their Champions League quarter-final tie without killing off their Portuguese opponents.
Keita, Firmino give Liverpool 2-0 win over Porto | Free
Football: Spurs shine to hit Everton for six LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Tottenham Hotspur showed why manager Mauricio Pochettino is a wanted man by thrashing Everton 6-2 at Goodison Park on Sunday (Dec 23) to close to within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Football: Tottenham shine to hit Everton for six - Latest
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen