Although it has seemingly paved the way for Emre Can’s exit, the arrivals of Fabinho and Naby Keita at Anfield could be the catalyst Liverpool need to achieve their Premier League aspirations…
Liverpool have succeeded in creating a new monstrosity in the centre of their midfield, with both Fabinho and Keita capable of running roughshod over any and all opposition. Fabinho is a player of extraordinary capabilities, which tell their own story.
A player who was on the books of Real Madrid’s reserves (on loan from Portuguese side Rio Ave), the lanky Brazilian initially showed his class as a right-back at Monaco, playing close to a hundred matches there after arriving initially on loan in 2013. Injuries and suspensions forced Leonardo Jardim’s hand ahead of the first leg of their Champions’ League Round of 16 tie against Arsenal in 2015 and Fabinho has never looked back, making his name as one of the most impressive defensive midfielders in Europe.
Fabinho has won more tackles, made more passes and won more aerial duels than any Monaco player in *each* of the last three seasons in Ligue 1.
Exactly what's needed. pic.twitter.com/ss2qLBEV8A
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 29, 2018
The sale of Geoffrey Kondogbia in no way hindered his rise, allowing him to flourish in his new role the following season. However, it was the 2016-17 where he really shone, becoming arguably Monaco’s most important player, helping the club win the league and make a shocking run till the semi-finals of the Champions League. Playing alongside Tiemoue Bakayoko (surprising, no?) in a throwback 4-4-2 formation, Fabinho made his mark with his ability to cover behind the runs of Monaco’s attack-minded full-backs. He became the pivot that allowed the team’s attacking riches, led by Kylian Mbappe, to function in the effective manner that they did.
Fabinho’s qualities are great to have but they need to have the right team, playing with the right style to compliment his strengths. Jurgen Klopp’s high-octane, high-press Liverpool side should be the perfect fit for both Fabinho and Guinea international, Naby Keita. Apart from his versatility – being able to play as a defensive midfielder, right back, right winger, and a box-to-box midfielder – the Brazilian possesses a great set of lungs, is an aerial threat at 1.88 m tall, a good tackler, and a penalty-kick specialist, scoring 19 of his last 20 penalties for Monaco. Speaking of scoring, Fabinho has also chipped in with 28 goals from defensive midfield in his past three seasons. This is a player who would walk into the starting XI of practically all the top teams in Europe.
Naby Keita, although a bit pricey at the rumoured £70 million fee that Liverpool paid for him, is no slouch himself. Despite being played in a number of positions for the majority of his two-year stint at Leipzig, the Guinean still managed to contribute 17 goals and 15 assists for last season’s Europa League semi-finalists. Overall, Leipzig used him as a defensive mid, centre-mid, right winger, left winger, and even in the attacking midfield position. However, arguably his biggest strength is his tenacity.
Naby Keita has dominated the competition wherever he has been, from the lower leagues of France to the Austrian Bundesliga, before joining Leipzig in 2016. With his diminutive frame, standing at 1.72 m, he has been called ‘Deco’, reminiscent of the former Porto and Barcelona playmaker, pinging passes across the field in effortless fashion.
“When he has the ball at his feet, he’s a weapon. It’s crazy what he does,” said former Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhüttl after Keita’s benchmark-setting performance in a 3-1 win over Werder Bremen last season.
Everything Naby Keita does on the pitch holds meaning and serves an attacking purpose. A player capable of breaking down any defence in Europe, it shouldn’t hurt that he will now also be playing alongside good mate Sadio Mane at Liverpool. It will be very interesting to see Fabinho and Keita up against the likes of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic in midfield.