There was a point this season when merely appearing on the substitutes' bench could be considered progress for Fabinho at Liverpool. Such were the travails of the Brazilian during those uncertain few months following his £39.3million arrival from Monaco in the summer. Since then, of course, Fabinho has emerged as a key figure for a Reds side pressing for honours both in the and Champions League. So the midfielder's absence from the starting line-up against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday caused a minor meltdown among Reds supporters. That Liverpool's engine room lost their way so spectacularly after the break, and subsequently regained some control on Fabinho's introduction during the closing quarter, did not pass unnoticed. Klopp, in a roundabout way, had signposted what was coming when asked before the game why Fabinho wasn't playing. “Fabinho is in really good shape, Naby (Keita) looks good, Adam (Lallana) looks good - so it’s all okay, but for this game we thought this is the right starting line-up and then in the game we can change," he said. "We’ll see what we do.” Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8Cancel Play now After the game, though, Klopp qualified his praise of Fabinho's cameo with some pointed comments. "A proper impact," said the Reds boss. "But he only had to play 15 minutes against a tired side but he was brilliant. He won a lot of really good balls and passed the ball." Fabinho had started on the bench at Bayern Munich earlier in the month, although an early injury to Jordan Henderson soon pressed him into action. And a look at his appearance record in the Champions League underlines why his place among the substitutes last weekend perhaps shouldn't be regarded a major shock. Even if, as many will attest, the Brazilian's form since early December suggests he had grounds for a least a bit of a grumble. In eight Champions League games this season, Fabinho has started just twice - and one of those was at centre-back in the first leg against Bayern with Virgil van Dijk suspended and both Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez injured. Indeed, the 25-year-old has totalled just 187 minutes in midfield during Liverpool's run to the quarter-finals. Consider, also, his appearance record in games against the "big six" in the this season. With just the visit of Chelsea later this month to come, the Reds have played nine of 10 such fixtures. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8Cancel Play now Fabinho has started only four of them, although he could point to the fact early games at Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and at home to Manchester City came before he'd made his debut at Huddersfield Town on October 20. All told, Liverpool have played 17 games in the Champions League or nearest rivals. Despite being regarded Klopp's trusted midfield, the trio of Gini Wijnaldum,
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There was a point this season when merely appearing on the substitutes' bench could be considered progress for Fabinho at Liverpool. Such were the travails of the Brazilian during those uncertain few months following his £39.3million arrival from Monaco in the summer. Since then, of course, Fabinho has emerged as a key figure for a Reds side pressing for honours both in the and Champions League. So the midfielder's absence from the starting line-up against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday caused a minor meltdown among Reds supporters. That Liverpool's engine room lost their way so spectacularly after the break, and subsequently regained some control on Fabinho's introduction during the closing quarter, did not pass unnoticed. Klopp, in a roundabout way, had signposted what was coming when asked before the game why Fabinho wasn't playing. “Fabinho is in really good shape, Naby (Keita) looks good, Adam (Lallana) looks good - so it’s all okay, but for this game we thought this is the right starting line-up and then in the game we can change," he said. "We’ll see what we do.” Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8Cancel Play now After the game, though, Klopp qualified his praise of Fabinho's cameo with some pointed comments. "A proper impact," said the Reds boss. "But he only had to play 15 minutes against a tired side but he was brilliant. He won a lot of really good balls and passed the ball." Fabinho had started on the bench at Bayern Munich earlier in the month, although an early injury to Jordan Henderson soon pressed him into action. And a look at his appearance record in the Champions League underlines why his place among the substitutes last weekend perhaps shouldn't be regarded a major shock. Even if, as many will attest, the Brazilian's form since early December suggests he had grounds for a least a bit of a grumble. In eight Champions League games this season, Fabinho has started just twice - and one of those was at centre-back in the first leg against Bayern with Virgil van Dijk suspended and both Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez injured. Indeed, the 25-year-old has totalled just 187 minutes in midfield during Liverpool's run to the quarter-finals. Consider, also, his appearance record in games against the "big six" in the this season. With just the visit of Chelsea later this month to come, the Reds have played nine of 10 such fixtures. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8Cancel Play now Fabinho has started only four of them, although he could point to the fact early games at Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and at home to Manchester City came before he'd made his debut at Huddersfield Town on October 20. All told, Liverpool have played 17 games in the Champions League or nearest rivals. Despite being regarded Klopp's trusted midfield, the trio of Gini Wijnaldum,
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