Klopp's parting message to Fabinho highlights big problem emerging at Liverpool
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hailed outgoing midfielder Fabinho for his "dirty work," outlining an asset the Reds will now need to replace.
The Brazil international moved to Anfield from Monaco in 2018, winning the Champions League in his first season and the Premier League in his second. Liverpool will need to prepare for life without him next term, though, with the 29-year-old joining Saudi outfit Al Ittihad in a deal worth £40million.
Fabinho is by no means the only Liverpool star to leave this summer, with Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino also moving to Saudi Arabia and James Milner leading an early midfield exodus. Klopp has added to his squad, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister coming on board, but his comments about his departing Brazilian speak volumes.
"Fab was for so long the insurance we had more or less in midfield," Klopp told club media. "He always gave us the freedom to play all the fancy stuff.
"He was involved in that from time to time as well but loved to be the hoover for the team, loved to do all the dirty work for the team. Together with the centre-halves, when both full-backs were flying right and left, all the strikers, all the midfielders somewhere and then just Fab and the two centre-halves when it looked, 'Oh OK if we lose the ball, there's still a few players at least who can sort that.' And he was massive.
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"So yeah, we will miss him, definitely. But again, it's like it is. Life is about changes – that's always – and you obviously have to adapt to them. If you don't do that if you stick in the past, something will hold you back – and I'm not that person."
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Liverpool still have options in the middle of the park, with senior star Thiago joined by Mac Allister and Szoboszlai this summer. Reds fans can also expect to see more from the likes of Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic after the youngsters impressed in flashes last term.
The Reds also remain interested in Romeo Lavia, though the Southampton starlet remains at St Mary's for now. According to Sky Sports, a renewed bid for the Belgian was turned down on Tuesday.
Klopp's team kick off their Premier League campaign with a trip to Chelsea on the opening weekend, followed by a home meeting with Bournemouth. The manager has already solved one of the problems facing him ahead of the big kick-off, with Virgil van Dijk succeeding Jordan Henderson as captain.
"We had to make the decision and I had to think about it," Klopp said. "But with Virg it's really now not difficult because I think he's an absolutely natural follower of a really big personality with Hendo, and we had to replace James Milner as well.
"Is that possible with one person? Probably not, so that's why it's really important that we speak, maybe a little bit later, about the leadership group, which is a really important group of people."
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