Liverpool midfield stabilizes as Fabinho returns to MF

[골닷컴] Reporter Kim Hyun-min = Liverpool won a complete 2-0 victory against RB Leipzig as they showed a sense of stability in the midfield. Most encouraging is the fact that Thiago Alcantara survived when Fabinho was protected from the defensive midfield position.

Liverpool won 2-0 in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 in the 2020/21 season against Leipzig at the neutral Fuskas Arena. Along with this, Liverpool advanced to the quarterfinals rather easily with a 2-0 victory in the first leg and a win in the second game.

Liverpool were having a nightmare after falling into a sluggish 6th consecutive Anfield home title for the first time in the club’s history. Even last weekend, he lost 0-1 to Fulham, a promotion team and relegation player. In 2021, Liverpool’s ranking, which had been number one by 2020, has fallen to 8th place by just adding 10 points (3 wins, 1 draws and 7 losses) in 11 Premier League games (hereinafter referred to as PL).

As a result, Liverpool threw Kang-soo, who had played a major role as a central defender throughout the season, as a defensive midfielder again due to a line injury from central defenders. Thiago Alcantara and Giorjinio Binaldum stood in front of the Fabinho, constructing a midfield in the form of an inverted triangle. The attacking Sritop also formed a Sritop with Sala-Sadio Manet as Diogu Stetta, who returned from a long-term injury instead of Roberto Firminu, started starting. Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were in charge of the left and right flanks, while Ozan Kabak and Nathaniel Phillips started as central defenders. The goal was kept by goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

The forward placement of the Fabinho was immediately effective. As Fabinho supported the front of the four backs and the back of the two midfielders, the recently unstable Liverpool performance began to find a sense of stability. In this match, Fabinho succeeded in recovering the most ownership (12 innings) and the most interceptions (4 innings), as well as 3 tackles (2nd in a tie) and 2 clearings (2nd in a tie). Exercised. It is not an exaggeration to say that thanks to Fabinho’s endurance, the somewhat inexperienced center-back line (Kabak and Phillips) was able to lead the matchless game.

Most of all, when Fabinho took the center of Jungwon, Thiago, who had suffered criticism for not being able to pay a name for it, survived. Thiago played 71 minutes and recorded the most tackle (6 innings) and the most ball competition (7 innings). Ownership recovery is also 8 times, which is second place after the Fabinho (once every 7 minutes and 30 seconds), once every 8 minutes and 53 seconds compared to the time of play. In addition, he succeeded in 2 clearings (2nd place) and 1 interception, showing his dedication in defense.

Defense wasn’t everything. The long pass was tried 4 times and delivered to colleagues with a 100% probability. In the process, he gave Salah a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper with a fantastic long pass around the 23rd minute, but the shot was blocked and unfortunately did not lead to a goal. It was Thiago, who even attempted a bike kick around the 24th minute.

Thiago wasn’t the only beneficiary of Fabinho. Thiago fell in the 71st minute and Navi Keita, who came in instead, gave power to the attack by recording two key passes (passes linked by shooting), the most among Liverpool players, in a short period of 20 minutes or so.

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp praised Fabinho for his performance, saying in an interview after the game, “he clearly showed that he prefers to play in the midfield.” Fabinho also smiled and said, “I missed the midfield position a little.”

As such, Liverpool blocked Leipzig’s offensive, which needed a two-goal victory to advance to the quarterfinals with a stable defense under Fabinho’s strong protection.Ace Sala’s opening goal in the 70th minute and Manet’s additional goal in the 74th minute in the counterattack opportunity. I wore it and won a 2-0 win. Above all, as Fabinho is positioned as a defensive midfielder, it seems that the division of roles between the midfielders is now clear. This was the day before Liverpool had a lot of harvest.