The signings of goalkeeper Alisson from Roma and midfielder Naby Keita from RB Leipzig may have drawn all the headlines and hype amongst the Liverpool support but it the signing of Fabinho from AS Monaco that could have the biggest impact on the club and their success next season.
For all the media attention that transfers in the modern era get there was still an element of surprise around the Fabinho deal with the news leaking from someone from within the deal a matter of hours before the club presented the Brazilian midfielder in his full kit. That is not to say that this deal should be any less high profile than any of the others that the club has completed this preseason. Fabinho was after all the captain and driving force of the AS Monaco side that reached the latter stages of the Champions League in the 2016/17 season and whilst the likes of Bernardo Silva and Kylian Mbappe chose to leave the club last year Fabinho stayed loyal.
With that said he has recognised that now, in his age 24 season, was the right time to move on to a top club in order to test himself at a higher level. This move will also help the players international prospects with the Brazilian national side having missed out on the squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Having moved to Europe to join Portuguese side Rio Ave in 2012 his potential was quickly recognised by Spanish giants Real Madrid and he was signed to play in their second team. All of this was as an athletic and attacking right back and it was not until he moved, initially on loan, to AS Monaco that he was used in midfield spending time there and in the centre of defence over the course of his time in France.
This versatility will be key to his performances for Liverpool this coming season but in my opinion, there are two key areas of the field in which he will be utilised with slightly different tactical roles in each.
Fabinho in the DM role
Last season has to have gone down as a success for Liverpool with Champions League qualification coupled with a run to the final of the competition itself. With that said though there was still a sense that Liverpool lacked some genuine quality in midfield. The deal for Naby Keita had already been agreed during the previous season but Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp decided to double down in this area with the signing of Fabinho.
Whilst Keita will play almost exclusively as an ‘8’ at the club Fabinho has the versatility to play either alongside Keita as the second ‘8’ or behind as the ‘6’ in Klopp’s favoured 4-3-3 system.
In this role, Liverpool will benefit hugely from the intelligence and ability to read the game in the deeper areas. He moves well from the centre of the field to both sides of the field to cover for his fullbacks when they move up into the attacking phase. This will make Liverpool instantly more secure when the opposition looks to make quick transitions from defence to attack.
