Early team news: Liverpool 'set to play' star with 92% win rate in unusual position vs Chelsea

Liverpool will unleash Jordan Henderson in the holding midfield role in place of the injured Fabinho, according to journalist James Pearce.

The Reds have been relatively fortunate in the injury department of late but that changed during their 2-1 win away to Aston Villa in the Premier League in midweek.

Fabinho limped off early in proceedings with a hamstring injury and the Brazilian will now miss both the FA Cup final and Liverpool’s two remaining league games this season.

His involvement in the Champions League final is also up in the air, as Jurgen Klopp’s men look to win a seventh European Cup in Paris, although reports late this week suggest he will be fit for the season finale.

Taking to Twitter, The Athletic‘s Pearce says that Henderson is now ‘set to play’ the No.6 role – the skipper has played just 13 of his 53 appearances this season in that position.

“Jordan Henderson set to play the holding role in Saturday’s FA Cup final.”

Fabinho is one of Liverpool’s most important players, mastering the defensive midfield role and being hailed as a ‘lighthouse’ by Pep Lijnders, so him being out is an enormous blow. The 28-year-old has averaged 1.6 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game in the league this season, not to mention scoring an impressive eight goals in all competitions.

However, while Henderson’s usual role is further forward on the right of a midfield three, his record in the defensive spot this season is somewhat remarkable – of the 13 games he’s played there (12 starts), the Reds have won 12 and drawn just once, a win rate of 92 per cent.

The captain manages less tackles and interceptions per game than the Brazilian, but provides nearly twice as many key passes, so could make the side more creative against