Fabinho’s Patience is Starting to Pay off at Liverpool

With Fabinho getting a slow introduction to Liverpool’s first team following last summer’s £50M move from Monaco, it was perhaps unavoidable that there would be rumours about his future at Anfield before he’d even properly had the chance to prove himself.

The line from Jürgen Klopp and the club, though, has always been the same: he’s part of their long-term plans and the delay was only ever about getting up to speed physically. A standout performance on Sunday against Everton would seem to support that idea.

“In training we talked so I would not be discouraged and concentrate on working without lowering my head,” Fabinho told Brazil’s UOL this week about the process of adjusting to a new league, new club, and new manager. “I knew the opportunities would come.

“Now I just want to increase the number of games I play in. Over the past few matches I’ve played more and I believe that I’ve played well in them, and since the football is very intense here, I have to be very well prepared for when the opportunity arises.”

Fabinho has played well in recent weeks. Against Everton in particular. And over a busy holiday period, more chances for him will come. As for those rumours about a return to France, the player said that the first he’d heard of them was in the papers.

Every player would, if possible, want to start in every match, and so far at least it’s probably fair to say Fabinho hasn’t played as often as he or many fans would have liked. There’s still plenty of season left to play, though; plenty of time for him to prove his worth.

“I have never said I would like to leave Liverpool,” he added. “I have always been aware that I need to have the patience, to wait for my moment. I’m happy at Liverpool, there’s no reason for me to leave.”