Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the table to seven points after a modest 1-0 win against Brighton. This will further put pressure on Manchester City, who face Wolves on Monday.
Both teams failed to create many chances and eventually, it was Mohamed Salah’s second half penalty which decided the game.
A cleansheet in his first league game in defence, we take a look at Fabinho’s performance against Brighton
KEY STATS
Minutes: 90
Tackles: 1
Aerial duels won: 3
Shots blocked: 8
Interceptions: 6
Clearances: 14
30-SECOND REPORT
With Joel Matip still to return and Joe Gomez plus Dejan Lovren sidelined due to injury, Fabinho was asked to operate from the centre-back position by Jurgen Klopp. The Brazilian did a good job at a position he is not fashioned to function in.
Arguably the best centre-back in Europe, Virgil van Dijk had yet another near-perfect game but Fabinho put on an equally impressive show by the Dutchman’s side.
Positioning, tackling, blocking – Fabinho’s game had it all. The 25-year-old was one of the best players on the field and ensured that the leaders did not drop any points on their trip to Brighton.
FT: Brighton 0 #LFC 1: Mo Salah's penalty early in the second half enough to send Klopp's side 7pts clear at the top of the PL table. Massive win. Wasn't pretty and they had to dig deep. Fabinho the pick of the bunch.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) January 12, 2019
GOT RIGHT
Positioning: It’s never easy to function in a different role when positioning sense is taken into consideration. Safe to say, Fabinho did a great job in ensuring that the Liverpool backline maintained a good defensive shape and remained unrattled by Brighton’s annoying swarm of attacks in the death.
The summer signing from Monaco also made van Dijk feel comfortable to move out of his area and play the ball to Andrew Robertson who played very high up the pitch throughout.
Blocking: Fabinho can lay claim on two of the three points Liverpool managed to garner. Although blocking a shot is an aspect of good positioning, Fabinho’s crucial stops against Brighton deserve a special mention.
The Brazilian blocked Jurgen Locadia’s shot from the right side in the 14th minute, which was Brighton’s first real attack on the Liverpool goal.
In the 59th minute, Pascal Gross found himself in the centre of the Liverpool box with the ball at his feet and an excellent chance to level the game. But Fabinho sensed the danger and put his body in the way.
Liverpool had to deal with yet another heart in the mouth moment in injury time when Gross found himself in a promising position in front of goal, only to be denied by a stretching Fabinho.
VERDICT
This is probably as good as it could have got for Fabinho in his first game as a centre-back. Outperforming the best centre-half in the league is no mere joke and the Brazilian deserves huge credit for Liverpool’s win on the night.
This further opens up possibilities for Klopp and we can probably see the van Dijk-Fabinho partnership more often, in case of any injuries to the first choice Gomez.
RATING: 8/10
