Fabinho is finding his feet as Liverpool beat Fulham 2-0

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Liverpool midfielder Fabinho

    Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table – temporarily at least – with a 2-0 win at home to basement club Fulham at Anfield on Sunday.

    Jurgen Klopp’s side continued their unbeaten start to the Premier League season as Mohamed Salah‘s eighth goal this term and a second from the recalled Xherdan Shaqiri helped them equal their best start to a campaign.

    While the scoreline suggested a comfortable victory, the game appeared to turn on a controversial decision five minutes before half-time.

    Fulham captain Tom Cairney’s curling cross was headed home by Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic but the linesman’s flag was up for offside.

    Naturally there are many talking points to fall out from the clash and we explore three of the most prominent.

    ATTACKERS STRUGGLE FOR RHYTHM

    Roberto Firmino struggled again versus Fulham

    Roberto Firmino struggled again versus Fulham.

    Between Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s incisive balls in the opener and Andrew Robertson’s peach of a cross for the second, it’s not hyperbole to suggest Liverpool’s backline were more effective in attacking areas than the forwards.

    Liverpool’s defenders are the reason why Klopp’s side are in the title hunt, but they were credited with that for their resoluteness rather than ingenuity.

    However, against a Fulham side possessing the same amount of colour as their kit, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson both produced two key passes and sent in eight crosses each.

    That serves to show the problems which currently infect the forwards because what seems to happen is the likes of Salah and, especially Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, struggle to beat their man, recycle the ball and it’s left to the full-backs to provide an avenue into the opposition box.

    The fact Robertson (116) and Alexander-Arnold (98) accumulated the second and third highest amount of touches in the game proves where the responsibility was shifted to.

    Now, Liverpool are indeed unbeaten in the league and are managing to keep pace with Manchester City and Chelsea, but there is a difference between being in the race and showing the quality necessary to win it.

    You can point to the league table and say the performances at this stage don’t matter and that criticism is harsh given Liverpool’s barren trophy haul over the last decade, but is it wrong to expect more than two goals in 12 games from Firmino, or Mane plundering just twice in his last seven league outings?

    Granted, Liverpool were rarely troubled and not being at their best is not the same as being well below par. However, it’s obvious to all, more is required to truly challenge.

    OPPOSITION’S NEGATIVITY IS A POSITIVE FOR REDS

    Aleksandar Mitrovic shakes hands with Roberto Firmino

    Aleksandar Mitrovic shakes hands with Roberto Firmino.

    One of the reasons for Liverpool’s success so far this season is not exactly down to their own doing.

    Indeed, teams have turned up against them expecting the electric outfit accustomed to under Klopp, only for the plug to have been pulled.

    The reason for that is seemingly to avoid burnout with the exhausting press put on hold in order to conserve energy across a long season.

    Yet their opposition’s lack of adventure or talent to really get at Liverpool and profit has meant only moments rather than sustained periods of quality are enough for them to secure points.

    Fulham were no different to Cardiff, Southampton, Leicester, Brighton and Crystal Palace in that sense.

    At Anfield, the visitors were awkward in possession with Aleksandar Mitrovic touching the ball in Liverpool’s box a miserly three times.

    He was dreadfully unlucky to be wrongly flagged offside after thinking he put Fulham ahead at a critical time only for Salah to do just that for his side a minute later.

    But it’s difficult to make a case for Fulham deserving anything more than what they got against a Liverpool side content to do the bare minimum.

    Klopp’s men set extremely high standards last season and it yielded no reward, but how long can they afford to be off their free-flowing best?

    Perhaps of more concern, is whether or not this is actually their ceiling in 2018/19. Regardless, they’re getting plenty of help from the opposition.

    FABINHO IS WARMING UP

    Klopp’s decision to show patience with his summer signing is being more than justified after Fabinho’s shaky start to life in the first-team fold.

    The Brazilian struggled with the pace of the game in the draw with Arsenal but then showed signs of recovery against Red Star Belgrade before shining on Sunday.

    Two tackles, interceptions and clearances alongside one key pass, 94 touches and a pass success rate of 90 per cent from 80 passes is the sort of stat line you expect from an elite No6.

    Operating in a double pivot alongside Georginio Wijnaldum in a 4-2-3-1, Fabinho added plenty of bite to the midfield, typified by his snapping interception after racing back to atone for a rare error in possession.

    His lofted passes in behind Fulham’s defence were a delight, although his performance did highlight a paradox with Liverpool.

    The 4-2-3-1 suits the midfielders better but seems to negatively affect the forwards who are more suited to the 4-3-3.

    Finding the right balance going forward will be key but Klopp will take solace in the promising performance of Fabinho.

    Recommended