The Reds’ priority this summer MUST be a new No.6

The signing of Fabinho in the summer of 2018 may not have been Liverpool’s biggest signing of the Jurgen Klopp era, but its importance is almost unrivaled.

Alisson and Virgil van Dijk deserve to top the list, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane also major additions, but the Brazilian’s influence has been vast throughout his five-year stay.

For too long, Liverpool have lacked a No. 6 elite to sit in front of the defense and master the underrated aspects of the game, even if Jordan Henderson tried to make his mark there. He had good games but was never the answer.

Fabinho perfected being called a ‘beacon’ due to his ability to see everything around him, which was a perfect analogy.

It’s a position that isn’t always talked about as the most important, perhaps because of its unspectacular nature, but it’s hard to enjoy great success without a top-quality player in that role.

While Liverpool’s 2023/24 season was an excellent one until it unraveled in recent weeks, the lack of a world-class number 6 was ultimately problematic, hampering their hopes of going all the way in the Premier League .

Liverpool’s lack of a no. 6 counts against them

There was a time when Wataru Endo was doing a magnificent job there, rightly earning cult hero status and playing a big part in the Reds’ quadruple push, but his limitations were exposed and his legs tired.

At 31, the Japan international is not the future at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield, and if he is to stay this summer, it must be as a team player.

As a comparison, Fabinho averaged 2.1 and 2.2 tackles per game in the league in 2018/19 and 2019/20 respectively, while Endo’s tally this term is 1.6. Similarly, 1.2 and 1.1 interceptions per game were made by the former Reds hero in those seasons, compared to 0.6 by the Japanese.

Wataru Endo

They may not be hugely contrasting, but fine margins make all the difference, which is why Liverpool’s most glorious period under Klopp included Fabinho as one of the first names on the team sheet.

Endo’s signing was a curious one and although he was considered a bargain at £16m, arriving as a 30-year-old immediately raised question marks.

Midfield woes symbolize a misguided transfer strategy

By comparison, Adam Wharton was available for £18m but Liverpool passed on him – despite being “long-term admirers” and instead signed Endo, the former now excelling at Crystal Palace and linked with a move to Anfield, this time for 60 million pounds.

Granted, Wharton is not a complete defensive midfielder for Palace, but opting for Endo over a young player like him sums up the Reds’ approach to the transfer market, which has become less convincing since the exit of Michael Edwards. round time.

Brighton ace Carlos Baleba is another being tipped to join Liverpool with Arne Slot’s arrival, but again would have been a more astute option than Endo last year as he is only 20 .

He completed 92.1% of his passes in the Premier League for the Seagulls, as well as averaging 1.4 tackles per game in 25 appearances in the competition.

Alexis Mac Allister cut and changed between roles no. 6 and no. 8, but it was very clear that he is much more effective in the latter.

Lack of pace has been a problem in deeper play, with opposition players running past the Argentine, and he doesn’t have the natural defensive brains that a Fabinho or a Rodri do there.

In fairness, Endo and Mac Allister have both enjoyed good moments in the defensive midfield this season, particularly in the former, but neither can be seen as the solution.

We now have just one more game with Klopp in charge, which is hard to believe and extremely sad.

Liverpool are crying out for a No.6

The German’s expected replacement, Slot, will already be considering new signings to start the new era at Anfield, looking to bring in players ideal for his system.

A no. A top-6 must be right at the top of his shopping list if he wants Liverpool to start next season, even if other areas of the pitch are also key, such as centre-back.

This current Reds squad bears some comparisons to the pre-Fabinho side of 2016-18, with a huge amount of quality but not enough control and poise to consistently win games.

What the Brazilian did was provide perfect cover for the two centre-backs, as well as allowing the likes of Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum freedom in front of him, not to mention using the ball in a subtle but effective way , breaking the lines and proving to be resistant to pressing.

He transformed Liverpool from an excellent team whose games were consistently entertaining to one of the most disciplined and ruthless teams in the history of English football in 2018/19 and 2019/20.

A similar figure simply needs to come this summer, although finding the right player will be difficult.

Let’s hope it’s something the likes of Edwards and Richard Hughes can create, heralding the start of an exciting new period under Slot.