Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has, on Friday, pointed towards a key member of the first-team setup at rivals Manchester United as inspiration for struggling midfielder Fabinho to return to form.
The subject of Fabinho’s woes has of course taken its place front and centre in the headlines on the red half of Merseyside across the season to date.
This comes with the Brazilian international, once such a key member of the midfield ranks at Anfield and widely considered one of world football’s best in his position, having seen his performance level fall off the side of a cliff.
In fact, so severe have Fabinho’s troubles been, that speculation across the media has widely suggested that he is set to be made available for transfer this summer.
Speaking to the press on Friday, the subject of his midfield enforcer’s concerning form was therefore put to Jurgen Klopp.
And Liverpool’s boss was not at all shy in admitting that Fabinho is currently struggling, from both a physical and mental standpoint:
‘In this position, you need a guy who wins challenges, who protects everybody, but who plays football as well. For plenty of years Fabinho has been the best in that position.
From here, in his efforts to inspire Fabinho to rediscover his best, the German tactician then pointed towards a starring member of the frontline at none other than Manchester United.
Highlighting his own resurgence across the season to date, Klopp advised his one-time key man in the middle of the park to look no further than the level at which Marcus Rashford is playing at present:
‘At the moment, it’s not clicking. Some players haven’t reached the levels they have reached for us over the past five or six years. It’s not unusual.
‘One of the best examples is Marcus Rashford. The season he had last year and the season he is having this year, I’m not sure he can explain it. You have to fight and work through it.’
Jurgen Klopp urges Fabinho to use Marcus Rashford as inspiration and turn his form around this season https://t.co/jouv9unCAK
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) February 3, 2023
Manchester United team news & predicted line-up vs Crystal Palace
