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Liverpool swept Watford aside at Anfield for the third year running on Wednesday, and Fabinho proved that he is now the Reds’ most important midfielder with a Mascherano-esque performance.
Liverpool desperately needed a big performance and result on Wednesday night, and that’s exactly what they got.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was magnificent, Virgil van Dijk was his usual self with an extra dose of goals and Mohamed Salah looked back to his best despite not finding the back of the net.
No one impressed more than Fabinho though, who completely dominated the middle third and proved once and for all that he is the star man in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield.
Mascherano 2.0?
Fabinho had to wait for his chance at Anfield, as the 25 year-old didn’t start a Premier League match until late October, but he has not looked back since breaking into the side.
He produced a stunning performance at home to Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, but his true breakout came in December, when he dominated wins against Manchester United and Wolves.
The Brazilian international has since been forced to fill in at right-back and centre back, both of which he has done with little difficulty, and Wednesday’s performance felt like the culmination of everything he has learned so far under Klopp.
The ex-Monaco ace was tenacious in the tackle, read the game expertly, and most importantly he always looked forward with the ball, breaking lines with high-tempo, incisive passing.
Liverpool have not had a truly elite defensive midfielder since Javier Mascherano left the club back in 2010, but Fabinho might even be better than the feisty Argentinian, as his skills on the ball are far superior.
Bad news for Henderson
His form could be bad news for Jordan Henderson – the two don’t really fit in the same team because they attempt to cover the same spaces, which sacrifices attacking returns.
Negative passing is always the most common criticism levelled at Henderson, and it was one that you simply cannot fire at Fabinho as he constantly looks over the top to his pacey wingers.
The Brazilian international is well and truly coming into his own, and with fans calling him the midfield version of Virgil van Dijk, it could be very hard for Henderson to force his way back into the side.
