Fabinho had been a class apart from all the other defensive midfielders in the league before he picked up an injury.
But against Southampton, the Brazilian returned back to his usual role as the deepest lying midfielder for Liverpool as the Reds thumped four goals past the Saints.
And speaking after the game, Jurgen Klopp admitted that Fabinho was not his usual self since returning back from injury but against Southampton, the midfielder brought back his old game.
“It was easy to move Hendo,” Klopp said as reported by Four Four Two. “Fabinho is naturally more a defensive-orientated player than Hendo.
“We had to control the counter-attacks of Southampton. He [Fabinho] has struggled with rhythm. The first two games when he came on it was not Fabinho before he got injured. That is normal, so Saturday was a big step for him. He was key for us.
“We needed a calm player in the centre, not too active. That was the change at half-time. We used him more for the switches – find Fabinho, pass to the other side and then accelerate and use the power of Hendo in the half-spaces.”
Apart from Fabinho, the manager also stood up to praise Bobby Firmino claiming the forward ws an exceptional footballing talent.
“He is [unique],” he said. “He is just exceptional, a very football-smart person, obviously.
“In the first half, in between a really tight formation of Southampton, the way he drops and keeps the ball, how he makes things happen is very special, absolutely.
“Then even a player like Bobby needs an address where he can send the ball, because he cannot take the ball and turn and run alone.
“How he uses the skills of his mates is special. I do not know a player like him, that is true.”
