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Micah Richards suggested that Fabinho’s loss of form has been “quite strange” and that the Liverpool midfielder’s legs may have gone.
Last night Liverpool ended Napoli’s perfect Champions League record with a 2-0 victory at Anfield, though the Reds still had to settle for second place in Group A.
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp’s side have endured a torrid start to the Premier League season.
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They currently sit in ninth place, eight points from the Champions League spots and 16 from league leaders Arsenal.
Everything that could go wrong seems to have gone wrong for the Reds. Thiago Alcantara and captain Jordan Henderson have struggled with a string of injuries this term.
Meanwhile, England star Trent Alexander-Arnold has been in dismal form and midfield enforcer Fabinho has looked desperately off the pace.
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The latter was the subject of criticism from Richards on the BBC's Monday Night Club.
The former Manchester City full-back said: “It’s quite strange isn’t it, we were talking about Fabinho about 18 months ago as being the best defensive midfielder in world football.
“He just looks like he can do all the same things apart from the legs.
“You know when you’re a midfielder and your legs just start to go, and you can’t get around the pitch as much as you would like, that’s what it seems to be.
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“I think it’s difficult at times when he’s played (Fabio) Carvalho and Harvey Elliott, two more offensive (players), when normally he’s had a Henderson next to him or a Thiago next to him.”
Until this season, Fabinho was one of Liverpool’s most important players. Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders even labelled him “the lighthouse” on account of the Brazil international’s ability to guide his teammates through games.
This term he’s been well off the pace.
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher likened the 29-year-old to a “ghost” in midfield against Leeds, only for the midfielder to be hauled off after 61 minutes.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Fabinho, Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Micah Richards