24 July 2023 , 19:57
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Liverpool's Fabio Carvalho has confessed he is not talking to Reds boss Jurgen Klopp as he prepares for a season on loan at Red Bull Leipzig.
The young Portugal under-21 international has joined the Bundesliga outfit after a difficult first season at Anfield that saw Carvalho underwhelm and make just four league starts. However, the 20-year-old has also opened up on why he feels he failed to meet the expectations many had for him after joining the club from Fulham.
Some of the attacker's comments could make for uncomfortable reading from the perspective of the Anfield faithful, who will wonder why Carvalho is not in communication with Klopp regardless of his temporary exit to Germany.
The former Fulham forward was pressed for comment over whether Klopp had provided him with any advice before his arrival at Leipzig, to which he revealed to Bundesliga media: "I don’t really speak to him, to be fair. He didn’t really give me any advice. I just had to learn as I go, and I feel that is better for me to mature anyway."
Carvalho went on to shed light on why his debut campaign didn't go to plan, suggesting that Klopp's decision to play him out of position did not help him adapt to life at one of the world's biggest clubs.
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“I feel like the reason it hasn’t worked at Liverpool is because of the position I have been playing on the left, which is not really my position," he explained.
"I was told I’d come in and play as a 10, but we don’t really play with a 10. Whereas here [at Leipzig] we play with two 10s. And it's more I'm able to get on the inside, I'm able to turn and go forward. So I'd probably say that's the reason it hasn't worked out."
Fabio Carvalho was coy over his long-term future ahead of his RB Leipzig loan spell (Antonio Balasco/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)Mirror Football is now on Threads! You can follow us here.
Carvalho even went on to issue a rather bleak update on his long-term Liverpool future beyond next season. His remarks hardly read like someone who sees himself at Anfield for years to come.
"We don't really know what happens next year, I may be here or may be at Liverpool," he admitted. "So we'll see, I'll just focus on this year and doing the best I can."
Carvalho was gracious enough to heap praise on some of the senior figurs at Liverpool last season that he claimed helped him adjust to the pressure that comes with being a Reds player.
He singled out James Milner for special praise, explaining how the new Brighton signing was always on hand to help after training. Ultimately, those extra sessions were not enough to convince Klopp to keep Carvalho around as Liverpool aim to return to the Champions League next term.