Ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea, the club's manager Jurgen Klopp revealed why he decided to feature Fabinho in the encounter. Despite joining Liverpool this summer for a reported fee of €50 million (£44m), the former AS Monaco midfielder had not had the opportunity to start any game for the Anfield outfit.
His only appearance of the season also came in the final minutes of Liverpool's 3-2 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain where the midfielder was used to replace Sadio Mane. Earlier in September, his manager Jurgen Klopp highlighted that his reluctance to start the 25-year-old midfielder was due to the slow nature of his adaptation to life at the club.
However, the 51-year-old, despite, maintaining that Fabinho is still adjusting to life at Liverpool in the pre-match press conference before the Chelsea game, handed his side's summer acquisition a spot in the starting XI. The German coach revealed that his reason was motivated by the fact that the presence of Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson in midfield could help get the best out of the former AS Monaco man.
"A good game would be cool! I can imagine the eyes are now on him pretty much after the transfer in the summer and he didn't play so far, but as normal as he can [play] would be the best way.
"He is not settled yet, but it's a good thing that Millie, Naby, and Fabinho played together in this formation in pre-season. That was one reason for the line-up to make it a bit easier, but in the end, we know he is a good footballer so it is not a proper test for him."
Fabinho was among the eight changes made by Klopp for Wednesday's third-round tie and he aims to rest a few key names against Chelsea once again in the Premier League on Saturday.
