Liverpool analysis - Fabinho worry emerges as midfield future becomes clearer

The post-match news Wolverhampton Wanderers had agreed a fee with Matheus Nunes was greeted in expected fashion from a certain group of Liverpool fans.

It matters not that there has been no suggestion the Reds have been interested in the player. Some supporters just want a midfielder – any midfielder – given what they believe is an obvious shortcoming in Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

Certainly, there would have been alarm bells sounding if, at the end of last season, it was suggested James Milner would be starting the second Premier League game of the new campaign.

But with so many injuries and niggles – and Milner having done well from the bench at Fulham last weekend – Klopp was compelled to turn to the veteran, who was reliable as ever during his hour-long stint and could even claim an assist of sorts for Luis Diaz’s wonder strike.

Of greater worry was again the display of Fabinho, way below his best on the opening weekend and whose misjudgement gave Eberechi Eze the time and space to send Wilfried Zaha away for Palace’s goal.

Jordan Henderson, fit enough only for bench duty, injected some purpose during the final half-hour and Fabio Carvalho almost won the game with a late volley. The outcome, though, has done little to allay suggestions Liverpool need to strengthen their engine room.

If one of the few iconic images from a tortuous campaign, it nevertheless possessed an unspoken postscript.

The snapshot of a battered and bruised Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams after helping Liverpool beat Crystal Palace to secure unlikely Champions League qualification back in May 2021 came with the rider there was every chance neither centre-back would be seen again in the Premier League for the club.

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