Liverpool Analysis – Fabinho deserves transfer, as Sadio Mane’s concerns have lessened

Fabinho may deserve transfer decision

During the first dark and difficult days at Anfield, it sometimes seemed unlikely that Fabinho would make it to a century of appearances in Liverpool.

But as it marked the significant milestone here against West Bromwich Albion, that raised an issue.

What would Jurgen Klopp do without his versatile Brazilian?

After cementing his reputation as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, Fabinho, without any problems or complaints, became a perfectly impressive central defender after the loss of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez due to long-term injuries.

It’s all right. Joel Matip’s latest injury problem – which will once again raise questions about his durability – left Fabinho again as the senior member of a partnership with Rhys Williams, aged 19, making only his second Premier League game.

Nat Phillips, another Academy graduate, has the same level of first-rate experience, while teenager Billy Koumetio has not been tested at that level.

While the decision on whether the Reds change tactics and look for a defender in the January transfer window may depend on the severity of Matip’s injury, another aspect may be helping to take responsibility for Fabinho in the new year.

But, whatever happens, a subject is out of the question. The Brazilian has arguably become Liverpool’s most important player.

Mane of humor while Salah fights

No wonder Sadio Mane was not very happy.

The Senegalese looked less than impressed when, last weekend, he took the bait after just an hour of Liverpool’s record win at Crystal Palace.

Jurgen Klopp rejected any suggestion of discontent, rightly pointing out that no player should be replaced.

Having ended an arid nine-game race with a thunderous stroke, Mane clearly felt that he had rediscovered his scoring touch.

And it took him just 12 minutes to underline the point when, after being scored by a beautiful pass from Joel Matip, the striker controlled the ball in the chest away from the West Brom Semi Ajayi defender and threw home a right foot kick.

The fact that the floodgates did not open was not due to lack of effort by Mane, who constantly besieged the rear of the Baggies and, in the first half in particular, created a lot of space for the lively Andy Robertson to overlap.

On the other flank, Mohamed Salah suffered a busy afternoon, giving many opportunities to run in defense, but he was often chased and lacked clarity at key moments, ending a sequence of five consecutive goal games.

Salah can have an occasional touch. And any concerns about Mane have now been emphatically banned.

Jones learns the hard way

This was a punishment experience for Curtis Jones.

With Liverpool fully dominant in the first half, the 19-year-old completed more passes than the entire West Brom team combined.

After the break, however, things became much more difficult, as the visitors increased the intensity, while the Reds decreased terribly.

Therefore, it was unwise for Jones, full of characteristic self-confidence, to exaggerate close to his own area when a simple ball out of defense was necessary, leading to the unnecessary concession of a corner from which the Baggies tied.

Take our 30-second transfer survey to Liverpool and tell us what Jurgen Klopp needs to do in the January window.

A little bit of arrogance is not bad and it really helped to accelerate the youngster’s development to become a regular holder. In this case, however, he was betrayed by his lack of experience in game management – that, don’t forget, just a seventh Premier League game.

It was not the teenager’s fault that the Reds failed to defend the set ball well. But these mistakes can often be costly at that high level.

Jones being Jones, he won’t let that affect him. Instead, he has already demonstrated that he can learn from any setbacks.