Awoof Sports
  • Home
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga
  • Serie A
  • Ligue 1
  • Betting Tips
  • Livescores
  • Gists
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
Awoof Sports
  • Home
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga
  • Serie A
  • Ligue 1
  • Betting Tips
  • Livescores
  • Gists
No Result
View All Result
Awoof Sports

Rio Ferdinand singles out ‘top operator’ Fabinho in Liverpool’s Champions League win over Ajax

Olatunjilewy by Olatunjilewy
October 22, 2020
in News, UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
0
Rio Ferdinand singles out ‘top operator’ Fabinho in Liverpool’s Champions League win over Ajax
12
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Rio Ferdinand singles out 'top operator' Fabinho in Liverpool's Champions League win over Ajax

The former defender was very impressed with Liverpool’s stand-in centre-back (Picture: BT Sport)

Rio Ferdinand has praised Fabinho’s performance as a stand-in centre-back for Liverpool in their 1-0 victory over Ajax in the Champions League – though says the key now will be to maintain his form.

The Brazilian was drafted in to play alongside Joe Gomez following the injury sustained by Virgil van Dijk in the Merseyside derby at the weekend – with the Dutchman not expected to play again this season – while Joel Matip also has an injury problem.

Fabinho helped his side keep a clean sheet – his fourth in five outings at centre-back – and made a superb goal-line clearance, with Ferdinand gushing about his display afterwards.

Fabinho Ajax Amsterdam v Liverpool FC: Group D - UEFA Champions League

Fabinho’s stunning clearance preserved Liverpool’s clean sheet (Picture: Getty)

Speaking on BT Sport, the former Manchester United defender said: ‘He’s probably been the best player in each of them games [he’s played at centre-back], especially the Bayern and Chelsea games he was probably the stand-out defender on both of those occasions.

‘Listen, this guy is a top operator. He played at right-back a lot of the time when he was at Monaco as well, so he knows how to defend.

‘But he’s going to be judged over the course of the season not over a couple of performances – and now he’s going to have an opportunity to play there for a sustained amount of time. And he’s going to have to show it on a consistent basis.

‘First half he made two or three of them type of challenges on the edge of the box, to just really quash attacks, and he has read the game really well today. But again, it’s about him and Gomez starting to feel a partnership.’

He continued: ‘The problem he’s got is that he’s filling the boots of one of the best defenders in the world, if not the best defender in the world at the moment. So it’s huge pressure, not only for him but for Gomez as well.

‘It’s pressure [on Gomez] because he’s a natural defender, he’s going to be looked at to be expected to lead that back four now – can he do it? That’s the question that’s going to be asked.’

Fabinho AJAX LIVERPOOL

Fabinho has kept four clean sheets in his five games as a centre-back (Picture: Getty)

Returning to Fabinho’s new role in defence, Ferdinand added: ‘I think what helps him is that Liverpool are not playing that really, really crazy offside.

‘If they step back and give him that bit of time to assess and see things by taking a step back, rather than being too much on the front foot, with your momentum always going forward rather than going back and matching people stride for stride, he’s got a better chance of showing real quality in that position.’

Tags: Ferdinand on Fabinho
Previous Post

Fabinho speaks out on replacing Virgil van Dijk in Liverpool’s defence

Next Post

Ainsley Maitland-Niles reveals Mikel Arteta was key to Arsenal stay after Manchester United and Wolves transfer links

Next Post
Ainsley Maitland-Niles reveals Mikel Arteta was key to Arsenal stay after Manchester United and Wolves transfer links

Ainsley Maitland-Niles reveals Mikel Arteta was key to Arsenal stay after Manchester United and Wolves transfer links

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

  • Aouar on Arsenal Transfer
  • Basketball
  • Betting Tips
  • Bundesliga
  • English premier League
  • Europa League
  • FIFA WORLD CUP
  • La Liga
  • Ligue 1
  • News
  • Serie A
  • Transfers
  • UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
  • Videos

Follow Us

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2020 Awoof Sports

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga
  • Serie A
  • Ligue 1
  • Betting Tips
  • Livescores
  • Gists
  • Login
  • Sign Up

© 2020 Awoof Sports

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In