After spending five years with the Reds, Fabinho has now made a permanent move to Al-Ittihad, according to Liverpool FC.
The Brazilian midfielder has successfully concluded his transfer to the Saudi Arabian club, marking the conclusion of a tremendously memorable period at Anfield. Throughout his time at Liverpool, he made 219 appearances across all competitions and won five major honours.
Fabinho’s Last Season With Liverpool
During his campaign at Anfield last season, Fabinho displayed a solid performance, consistently contributing to the Merseyside team in the midfield. The Brazil international participated in 39 matches for Liverpool, managing two assists across all competitions.
As a dependable presence in the holding midfield positions, the 29-year-old showcased his abilities with an average of 0.5 key passes, 1.8 tackles, 1.0 interceptions, and 1.1 clearances per game in the Premier League. Moreover, he demonstrated excellent distribution of possession in the opposition half, as evident from his impressive pass success rate of 88.7% in the top tier of English football (stats via whoscored).
Can Klopp Find A Decent Replacement?
Fabinho’s skill in reading the game and anticipating the opposition’s actions empowered him to execute vital tackles, interceptions, and well-timed challenges, creating a robust shield for the backline.
Renowned for his extraordinary defensive prowess, Fabinho had been a crucial pillar in Liverpool’s midfield. His imposing physical presence, astute positioning, and tactical acumen rendered him a formidable force in intercepting opposition attacks and disrupting their play.
Moreover, his quick regaining of possession and adeptness at initiating swift counter-attacks have played a pivotal role in complementing Liverpool’s high-tempo style of play. Fabinho’s contributions in the pivotal No. 6 position and his crucial defensive stability have been indispensable for the Reds.
Losing Fabinho without securing a fitting substitute has undoubtedly presented a considerable challenge for Liverpool. Finding a player with a distinctive combination of defensive prowess, exceptional passing ability, positional flexibility, and leadership qualities would be daunting. However, the Brazilian midfielder isn’t irreplaceable as several players could potentially replace him, but Klopp will need to act swiftly in the transfer market.
