Jurgen Klopp is delivering Liverpool star tough Fabinho treatment after severe Wolves call
Jurgen Klopp was confronted with a selection conundrum before his new-look Liverpool side faced Wolves in Saturday’s early kick-off, and any reporter who appeared ready to question the Reds manager on the matter was set to get both barrels.
In his pre-match press conference, Klopp lashed out at reporters who had observed his distaste for playing early Premier League matches immediately after an international break in which his players participated in competitions around the globe.
Klopp had a group of South American talents, including Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz, and Darwin Nunez, who were all participating in midweek matches on the opposite side of the globe. Prior to the Wolves match, their respective returns to the Liverpool camp barely allowed for one full training session.
As a consequence, Klopp’s decision to immediately insert Mac Allister into the action at the high-pressure No. 6 defensive midfield position was all the more peculiar.
The adaptability of the Argentine star makes such a tactical adjustment always possible for Klopp, but many fans and pundits were left wondering what had become of new signing Wataru Endo.
The Japan international is a defensive midfield anchor who specializes in disrupting play and recovering the ball in deep areas. Endo was absent from the starting lineup at Molineux because he was on international duty for Japan during the break, which included a resounding victory over Germany.
In his absence, Mac Allister started and struggled to keep up with the Wolves’ tempo. The former Brighton player did not appear wholly at ease, and he received a yellow card for pulling Matheus Cunha before being replaced at halftime.
However, Endo was nowhere to be found. Klopp made substitutions with Liverpool trailing 1-0, bringing on Luis Diaz, Nunez, and youngster Harvey Elliott. The Japan veteran sat on the sideline and did not participate in the game.
Consequently, the burning query is why? When he was brought in from Stuttgart this summer, Klopp raved about the unexpected signing. Club cameras captured the first conversation between player and coach, in which Klopp could be heard telling Endo: “We need you, we really need your talents. We have a fantastic team here.”
Endo has felt the affection since his arrival from England, but his playing time has been limited thus far. Endo need only look as far as the man he replaced in the midfield for the Reds, Fabinho, to comprehend his current circumstance.
Fabinho was rarely spotted by Liverpool supporters for several weeks following his 2018 transfer from Monaco.
Rather, Fabinho was tasked with studying the Liverpool system and formation in forensic detail, learning his way into the team and recognizing his precise role in the mechanism.
According to Endo, this well-versed Klopp introduction manner appears to be recurring.
The Liverpool manager is aware that the 30-year-old Japanese superstar has a wealth of experience. However, there is little opportunity to improve. The summer signing must get things right from the start, so the ‘Fabinho treatment’ is being implemented again.
For any critics who may become restless, the Brazilian’s advancement is sufficient proof that there is method to the madness. For a time, Fabinho was the most influential defensive midfielder in the Premier League and global football, resulting in an abundance of trophies.
Klopp’s team for today is drastically different, but he expects similar outcomes in the near future.
Jurgen Klopp is delivering Liverpool star tough Fabinho treatment after severe Wolves call