Fabinho has claimed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s switch into a midfield role has added more control to Liverpool’s team.
While still defending as a traditional right-back, Alexander-Arnold has been deployed in more of an inverted role in possession, pushing further up the field to make the most of his creativity, and the results are clear to see as the 24-year-old has racked up five assists in his last four appearances.
Liverpool’s upturn in form has also coincided with the return from injury of Curtis Jones who, alongside Alexander-Arnold, has changed the dynamic of the team’s midfield for the better.
“Everyone is with the same idea, is reacting really well,” Fabinho told club media. “If one player loses the ball, everybody is ready to press and recover it. I think this is really important. This is the way we always play – counter-press, reaction. I think this is working really well.
“Curtis came into the team some games ago and he’s playing really well. I think it’s really important to have a player like him playing [at] the highest level because he really helps us. And then we changed some things in our system. Now with Trent when we have the ball, he goes a little bit more inside next to me and I think it worked really well for us. He’s a really good player on the ball. Me and him, I think we are doing well, we understand each other. I think the team is playing really well at the moment and we just have to keep this momentum and keep playing good and winning games.
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“Curtis, I know him well, I know his quality. He’s the kind of player that always looks ready. I don’t know how many games he was on the bench or not even on the bench [but] when he came into the starting XI, he always played good. That’s why I say he’s already ready. I’m not surprised at all with his performances.
“And Trent, we all know his quality. I’ve said it before, even when he plays right-back, he likes to drop a little bit to receive the ball in a similar position and try to pass the ball because he’s maybe the best passer in the team. Now he’s in this position more and I think he really enjoys being in this position, like having more of the ball and being more important in this part of the pitch. It’s working really well for him and for us. I hope he will keep getting better in this position because me, him, Hendo, Curtis, we are playing really well in this part of the pitch. This is good for the team.”
Liverpool have put together three consecutive victories and are unbeaten in their last five as they push for a spot in Europe next season.
“We are playing really well now,” Fabinho continued. “That we are playing midweek, weekend, we can keep playing really well. Physically, I feel that the team is really good as well. We can see the reaction of every player in the game, the counter-press, everything is there.
“And then, of course, we saw quality with the ball. We always create opportunities, we will always have chances and we are being clinical in front of goal as well.”
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